“Sorry, I’m Working that Holiday” by Debbie Miller
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
As a cop’s wife, you learn to live with concerns that most wives don’t have: your husband’s safety, toxic media coverage, and bad politics, just to name a few. A more immediate and potentially frustrating day-to-day burden for a cop’s wife is the work schedule. Especially if your husband works patrol, police work is 24/7/365, weekends and holidays. At times he’ll have to work weekends. If he gets involved in some matter toward the end of the shift and goes into overtime, he has to do his job.
Times will come when your husband can’t attend functions like church, graduations, family gatherings, and weddings. Don’t complain and be discontented. You’ll likely just cause friction with him. Did you ever hear a preacher talk about the “Proverbs 31” woman, the model for Christian womanhood?
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
Well, the “Proverbs 31” woman has an evil twin, the “Proverbs 21” woman:
“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” (Proverbs 21:9, 19)
The Proverbs 21 woman complains and argues. Don’t be the Proverbs 21 woman. If you make a habit of complaining, don’t be surprised when your husband spends more time in the garage, basement, or other “corner of the housetop”-type place to get away from you.
Paul said in our opening verse that he “learned” to be content, so apparently at some point he was not content with his circumstances. Yet God dealt with his heart and he learned to be content. If you’re not content with your spouse’s occupation, God can do the same with you as He did with Paul.
The work schedule can be a particular headache during the holiday season, but one practical way to make the best of it is simply to work around it. If he works days on Thanksgiving, schedule dinner for the afternoon. If he’s on afternoons, make it early. If he works nights, schedule it around his sleep. If he works Christmas, schedule the family gathering for the nearest off-day before December 25. If you have small kids, they probably won’t know the difference and they’ll still enjoy it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So make it a point to be thankful. Giving thanks will help you to be content. Thank the Lord for your spouse’s job and willingness to work. Thank Him also for holiday pay, which is usually extra. Thank Him as well for your husband’s health and ability to work.
Your husband’s work schedule with all the functions he misses is tough for him, too; not just you. Determine that by God’s grace, you’ll support him and let the crazy work schedule bring you closer together, not further apart.
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11/13/2017
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