Shalom Bayit: Needy wife BY DESIGN

"I hear strange noises outside," she whispered, her voice trembling with unease. Her husband chuckled, laying deeper into his pillow. "Maybe it's time to change the batteries in your hearing aid." She shot him a glare. "I don’t wear hearing aids!" "Well," he teased, grinning, "maybe it’s time you got some!"

This exchange reminds me of a curious tale from long ago. Picture Noah stepping off the ark, his sons trailing behind him, but his wife lingering inside. God had commanded them to leave together, yet she hesitated, her heart pounding. "There are noises outside," she murmured, fear rooting her to the spot.

I often hear men say, "My wife is so needy." And I nod, smiling, "That’s true." But let’s pause and consider: what truly binds us to one another? Is it the things we have, the possessions, the comforts, the status? If that were the case, we’d all be living in gilded mansions, isolated by our wealth. No, it’s what we lack that draws us closer. The ache of loneliness, the yearning for connection, these are the invisible threads that weave our lives together.

That "neediness" we sometimes complain about? It’s not a flaw; it’s a strength. Your wife’s deep desire for connection isn’t a burden, it’s the fire that fuels your bond. If her need were any less, she might not have chosen to pause her own dreams, to intertwine her life with yours, to build a family together. Her longing is the heartbeat of your shalom bayit, the peace and harmony of your home. Embrace it, for it’s what makes your shared journey not just enduring, but extraordinary.