Part 3: Coming Home

The husband is coming home soon, and the wife needs to make preparation for his return. She needs to do an inventory of the duties and responsibilities given to her when her husband left. She should take note of any changes in the way she does them from the way her husband did them before he left. She should also note any problems she has had in doing them. If the hot water heater broke while he was gone and she has just lived with cold water for a week, he’ll need to know that soon after coming home.

Then in the same way they transitioned when he left, the husband and wife now need to transition back again. Upon coming home, the husband should initiate another “changing of the guard” ceremony. They should do the same praying, singing, Bible study and reading. They should bring out the same list they used when the husband left and go over everything on the list again. As they discuss the items, the husband should take back the responsibilities he had previously given to his wife. If they find that the wife is better at some particular job than her husband and enjoys doing it, they can happily allow her to keep that particular responsibility.

Then, over the next few days and weeks, he should find out from his wife how things have been going. He should fix that water heater. He should see what the mower is doing that drives her nuts. He should see how she has improved the financial picture. He should see what things she was unable to do while he was gone and fix them.

When the ceremony is complete, the whole family needs to know who is doing which responsibilities and the husband needs to be the head of the home.