Happy Home

I Would Be Happy If…

Arlene Pellicane

When my daughter Lucy was three years old, she dreamt of going to Disneyland. We told her we would be visiting Mickey and Minnie Mouse soon. Of course, she did not want to delay one second! “Are we going today?” she asked with great excitement.

“No, we are going next week,” I replied.

Every morning that week, Lucy would wake up and immediately ask, “Is today tomorrow?”

I laughed and told her, “No, today is not tomorrow yet.”

The day finally arrived. When Lucy asked her question, I replied with joy, “Yes! Today is tomorrow!”

In the same way my three-year-old wanted to experience the fun of tomorrow right now, we as wives sometimes dream wistfully of tomorrow. Tomorrow we’ll have more money. Tomorrow he’ll be more romantic. Tomorrow life will be easier.

Somehow, we think something magical may happen to change our circumstance tomorrow. Have you ever thought, “I would be happy if…”? Think about Eve, the first wife. She had a perfect husband, and yet when Satan tempted her, she fell for it. She thought she would be happier if…

If Eve teaches us what trouble happens when we say “I would be happy if…” maybe Abigail teaches us what good happens when we say “I am happy even though…” Abigail was married to a very wicked man. The Bible tells Abigail’s story in 1 Samuel 25.

Abigail’s name meant “my father rejoiced” while her husband Nabal’s name meant “fool.” Not exactly a match made in heaven. But something was about to happen to test Abigail. How she would respond on just one day would affect all her tomorrows.

Abigail’s husband was holding a grand feast for his sheepshearers. David and his men, while hiding out from Saul, had protected Nabal’s shepherds from the Philistines in the wilderness. Hearing of the great bounty and thinking of his hungry men, David sent ten messengers to inquire if they could have food leftover from the feast. Nabal in his foolishness not only declined the request, he insulted the messengers. “Who is this David? Why should I take my bread and water and give it to men coming from who knows where?” Nabal roared.

David was enraged and prepared 400 men for battle to destroy Nabal’s household. Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants told Abigail all that had transpired. She sent her servants to intercept David with gifts of loaves, wine, sheep, corn, raisins, and figs to appease him.

She took action—riding a donkey into a mountain ravine as David and his men descended upon her. She bowed down before David, apologizing for her husband’s foolishness, and acknowledging David’s future kingship. Because of her wisdom, David accepted her apology. There was no blood spilt. Abigail had saved her household and David’s reputation.

She understood that if she kept doing the right thing today, her tomorrows would work out. She took responsibility, not only for her own actions but for the foolish actions of her husband.

What you experience tomorrow has a lot to do with what you do today. When you take responsibility for your own life, you possess hope for change. You’re not a victim of someone else’s shortcomings.

Abigail told Nabal about her encounter with David. About ten days later, God struck Nabal, and he died. David then asked Abigail to be his wife. She simply walked in wisdom each day, and God in His sovereignty secured this bright future. That’s quite a love story. It turns out happily ever after can happen in the real world…and it all starts with what you do today.

Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, the host of the Happy Home podcast, and author of several books including: Screen Kids, Parents Rising, and 31 Days to a Happy Husband. Arlene has been featured on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, Wall Street Journal, FamilyLife Today, and Focus on the Family. She lives in San Diego, Calif., with her husband James and their three children. arlenepellicane.com

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