All of us need to be wise, but I entitled this A Wise Woman because of the first verse in Proverbs 14.

“The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

There was a time, years back, when I was a foolish woman. I started seeing this verse all the time. It seemed like every time I opened my Bible, it would land on this page and Proverbs 14:1 was at the very top of the page and would be the first thing I’d see.

Over and over I saw this verse, but I didn’t know why.

Then one day I made a mean comment to my husband. He had been acting selfishly in a way that hurt me. I felt justified. I was wrong. I have absolutely no recollection of what I said, none at all, but what I do remember was turning and walking away and an evil grin spread across my face. It startled me that I was happy to have said it. I had the thought that it was an evil grin. But I didn’t turn around and apologize. I didn’t get down on my knees in tears and repent.

I don’t know if it was that day or when, but the baby started screaming. I could not get him to stop. (Maybe it would be helpful to understand that we were in Turkey, our first year there. Spiritual warfare was real and intense, and I had just let down my guard of righteousness. In saying that, let me also point out the absolute sovereignty of God. He kept us and protected us. He had a lesson for me that day.)

I called a friend to pray. As soon as she started praying in the Spirit, the baby stopped crying and I started shaking. She kept praying, but that wasn’t what I needed at that point. I needed to repent.

I asked the Lord if anything needed repenting, and I remembered and knew I needed to repent, not just of the comment, but of not respecting my husband. I confessed to the Lord and praised Him until the shaking was all gone, never to return.

I have walked in respect for my husband ever since. Now I am a wise woman building my house instead of a fool tearing it down with my own hands.