
So guys, when your wife isn’t feeling well, how do you respond? Are you quick to lend a hand? Do you give her the rest she needs? Do you handle the things you know are important to her before she asks? Or do you pretend not to notice and hope she’ll just keep plugging along? Maybe you are somewhere in between. I think most women will only ask for help as a last resort, but they would gratefully accept it if offered. A husband needs to be sensitive to his wife’s weakness when she’s sick and strive selflessly to be a blessing.
It’s also possible that a husband’s response will depend on how long the couple has been married. Here’s one person’s humorous depiction of how that response may deteriorate with time:
Seven Ages of the Married Cold
1st year — The husband says, “Oh, sweetie pie, I’m really worried about those nasty sniffles you have! There’s no telling what that could turn into with all the strep that’s been going around. I’m going to take you right down to the hospital and have you admitted for a couple days of rest. I know the food is lousy there, so I’m going to bring you some takeout from China Garden. I’ve already arranged it with the head nurse.”
2nd year — “Listen, honey, I don’t like the sound of that cough. I called the doc and he’s going to stop by here and take a look at you. Why don’t you just go on to bed and get the rest you need?”
3rd year — “Maybe you better go lie down, darling. When you feel lousy you need the rest. I’ll bring you something–do we have any canned soup around here?”
4th year — “No sense wearing yourself out when you’re under the weather. When you finish those dishes and the kids’ baths and get them to bed, you ought to go to bed yourself!”
5th year — “Why don’t you take a couple aspirin?”
6th year — “You oughta go gargle or something, instead of sitting around barking like a dog!”
7th year — “For Pete’s sake, stop sneezing. Are you trying to give me pneumonia? You’d better pick up some tissues while you’re at the store.”