Yesterday I started a blog post to highlight a supportive spouse – Susannah.

Her story is so rich, I couldn’t finish in one day – in one post.  (I kinda surprised myself.)  We left off at an attitude-changing event when she was engaged.

~~~~~~~

Susannah and her fiance – a preacher – were headed for Kennington, a large hall, for an afternoon service.

He was to preach to a large crowd and was completely engrossed in his own thoughts and preparation.  As they got out of their horse & cab, the streets were filled with people entering the hall.  The staircase was full of people.  The entrance was teaming with people.  Susannah worked hard to stick close to her future husband.

However, they became separated.

Being preoccupied with his coming need to serve, he forgot she was following him and entered a door.  He left Susannah alone.  She was swamped by the crowd.  This is how she describes her emotions:

At first, I was utterly bewildered, and then, I am sorry to have to confess, I was angry.

She went home.

She didn’t stay for the sermon, but turned around and went home to her mother to complain about her fiance’s lack of attention and forgetfulness.

Can you relate?

This young woman expected her future husband’s attention.

He was courting her.  He said he loved her…  and he forgot about her.  She had every “right” to be angry, didn’t she?

What happened when she got home…

Her mother was at home when Susannah arrived.

I imagine there were questions on why she wasn’t at the hall listening to her future husband preach.  I imagine Susannah had a mouthful of words on how she felt – abandoned, forgotten, indignant, abused by the crowd, and just plain hurt.

Susannah’s mother listened, sympathized, yet gave some unique counsel.  Here’s how Susannah describes what happened:

She wisely reasoned, that my chosen husband was no ordinary man, that his whole life was absolutely dedicated to God and His service, and that I must never, never hinder him by trying to put myself first in his heart. Presently, after much good and loving counsel, my heart grew soft, and I saw I had been very foolish and willful…

Wow.  There’s an attitude adjustment!

Up until this point, Susannah’s future husband had remained true to his calling.  When she met him he was a focused, unique and energetic servant of the Lord.  He preached to crowds.  He was sometimes vilified in the press because of his words.  He was the same person she had first met – and agreed to marry.

Charles was called to preach.

How the story ends…

In Susannah’s words:

… then a cab drew up at the door and he came running into the house in great excitement, calling,”Where’s Susie? I have been searching for her everywhere and cannot find her; has she come back by herself?”

My dear mother went to him, took him aside and told him all the truth; and, I think, when he realized the state of things, she had to soothe him also; for he was so innocent at heart of having offended me in any way, that he must have felt I had done him an injustice in thus doubting him.

At last, mother came to fetch me to him, and I went downstairs.

Quietly he let me tell him how indignant I had felt, and then he repeated mother’s little lesson, assuring me of his deep affection for me, but pointing out that, before all things, he was God’s servant, and I must be prepared to yield my claims to His.

I never forgot the teaching of that day; I had learned my hard lesson by heart, for I do not recollect ever again seeking to assert my right to his time and attention when any service for God demanded them.

A Hard Lesson

Susannah carried this lesson with her for the remainder of her married life.  She chose not to assert her right to his time and attention when any service for God demanded them.

She was a supportive spouse; Susannah was loved by her husband, valued by her husband, and a support to his ministry.

After the age of 33, she was often bedridden and couldn’t come to hear him preach.  Yet still she supported her spouse.

Some of what they, with God’s blessing, accomplished:

• A Pastor’s College – that continues today.
• Both their sons became preachers. Thomas succeeded his father as pastor of the Tabernacle.  It still exists.
• Books, and sermons, and commentaries, and writings and letters, and devotions…   I couldn’t find a number – most are all still in print – and many are free!
• They pushed through a great divide called “The Down-Grade Controversy” and where Charles was pitted against Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution.
• An orphanage.
• A Book Fund for ministers.

Who was Susannah’s spouse?

Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon

(19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892)

I recommend reading more about this amazing couple – their story is so rich.  I left so much out…

He called her “wifey”, wrote many loving letters and shared his concerns and woes with her.  She was his confidant, and his encourager.  She was a prayer warrior.

Their faithfulness to the calling God placed on Charles has influenced millions for Christ.  How would the story differ if she hadn’t been supportive?

Click here to read more about Susannah.  Or here to buy the devotionals she wrote.

Have you heard of Charles Spurgeon?

So, maybe you say to yourself:

“My spouse isn’t anything like Charles Spurgeon… What does this have to do with me?”

Hmm.  I wonder…