Ann Pierce Arnett, married to Robert Glenn Arnett at St. Luke’s UMC, March 30, 1964

Proverbs 8:26-32
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world’s first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.
“And now, my children, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.

Reflection:
I’ve been doing the wash ever since 1964 when I married Bob, the delight of my life. We met on a blind date and it was the “proverbial” love at first sight. He met all my criteria for a husband: he was blonde, had blue eyes, he could dance, he was a Methodist, and he went to Rice University. He was perfect! Of course over the 59 years since then, life has been everything a girl would want. Well, there were a few kinks to work out- how to load the dishwasher, how to raise the kids, what was the best way to drive from point A to point B—you know, important things. It was amazing to find out that there was more than one way to do just about everything— needless to say. 

We have been blessed and I have gained new perspectives. It hasn’t been easy for me. The good news is that as hard-headed and sure as I have been about how things should be done, Bob has been gentle and amused and wise beside me. When I have drawn a line in the sand, he has opened it up into a circle big enough for us both.

When I began reading through Proverbs these past few weeks, I found myself circling back to the poem in Chapter 8. The words of delight and rejoicing were unexpected in what I remembered in this long avoided list of Proverbs’ Do’s and Don’ts. But this morning as I stood by the washing machine loading in our “whites and brights,” I found myself frowning. But then I found myself remembering the lines from Proverbs 8. Could this be a “daily delight”? You see Bob and I are both retired now and we have had this running disagreement—okay, a difference of opinion—about how his permanent press oxford button-down shirts should be washed. I contend that they should be rebuttoned before loading them into the washer because it’s easier to button them when they are dry rather than afterward when they are damp. So several times I had asked him to button them up after he takes them off before putting them in the hamper. But he doesn’t—which is fine for him when he does our wash. But, when I’m the one doing it—well, the polite word is “chagrined.” I think you can see where this is going… 

This morning I was the loader. And this morning as I picked up each shirt and began buttoning up the unbuttoned shirts I found myself frowning, but then after a few buttons, relaxing into the rhythm. Bob had his way and I had mine. Each button was a reminder—a little circle reminding me of how grateful that he has been beside me all these years. You see I’ve had three close friends lose their husbands in the past two months to heart attacks and strokes. So more buttons and then more gratitude for having a washing machine and water—yes, water that a great number of people on this earth don’t have—and a warm house on this cold day—and all the wisdom that has come down to us buttoned up in Proverbs. 

“Listen, my children, happy are those who share in God’s delight and wisdom. This morning I can hear her; Wisdom calling out at the crossroads. She’s been here from the beginning.

Prayer:
Wise and Wonderful Counselor, guide me in your ways. Open my mind to your steadfast love so that I may walk in the way that leads to life eternal. Amen.