By Lynette Lewis
It seems obvious…you want a man who knows how to work and keep a job. Sadly not all do, and for a woman this can bring undue stress, anxiety, and the awful temptation to nag.
On the other hand, what about men who work too much? Workaholism is prevalent as well, and can leave your heart alone and discouraged.
So what’s a woman to do when assessing? Once again it’s about personal wholeness. A man who is healthy emotionally, in his ego, spiritually, and relationally, will WANT to work hard, provide for those he loves, and pursue meaningful endeavors that make a difference. A healthy man doesn’t work in order to fulfill inordinate needs; doesn’t stay late all the time to avoid other demands.
Complementary to this, as women we need to be developed and not needy, realizing there are trade-offs. For instance, if I want my man home every night at 5 for dinner and family time, I’ll need to accept the fact I may be denying him advancement and promotional opportunities.
There are many nights when I’m home alone while Ron works (or in the same room alone, while he works!) I use it as girlfriend time or alone time, and when twinges of sadness threaten, I thank the Lord for a husband who works hard and makes a difference.
There may be seasons when a man can’t work. Life is full of ups and downs. Still, you want to see determination, wisdom, and commitment relative to his occupation.
A man with a good work ethic doesn’t have to be the CEO or widely acclaimed. It’s about him discovering what his gifts are, developing those, training hard and showing up. This gives him a strong sense of self and purpose, which in turn comes back as a blessing to you.
Men are designed to work, they need to work. This makes relationships work.
___________________________________________________________________
Lynette Lewis is an author, business consultant and an inspiring speaker. Her popular book, Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos, has been published in several languages receiving recognition from numerous sources including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and The Dallas Morning News. She is also an author of a relationships book called Remember the Roses. lynettelewis.com
Cover image from mmn.com
Marry a Man Who Has a Great Work Ethic