Little We Can Do

(Pro 12:4 KJV)  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

How does a wife “shame” (954) a man?  I can think of many ways, from observation and experience.  This would probably refer to both deliberate, conscious shaming as well as the unintentional things that some people do because of who they are.  It is used in Genesis to describe Adam and Eve running around naked in innocent oblivion.  At the other end it is used of Hosea’s wife who became a prostitute.  

One part of this verse that troubles me is that there is little or nothing the husband can do about this kind of shaming.  This woman is going to do her own thing and if you don’t like it, too bad.  It is a reminder that life is not always perfect.

So?  The only solution I can think of is to renew my trust in the providence of God and get on with life.  Make it a matter of prayer knowing that God will do what He can to bring repentance and renewal.