How the tables have turned, the switching of roles as his wife takes on breadwinning responsibilities. These she does noiselessly; not just providing for the household but at the same time, saving the man the shame that comes with bearing a title circumstances have stripped him of.
The man, having been brought to his knees by life's unforeseens, finds succour in his true ride-or-die, the only human alive patient enough to weather the storms with him. She's seen him in different seasons of life and understands that his present phase is nothing different from the dryness that comes with harmattans. His greens now turned grey, boast of nothing but memories of a faraway spring, of a sepia toned summer.
She shows that indeed she is the help that meets his needs; help-meet. But for her, the walls of the home would have caved in, burying whatever bliss that once lived therein. Outsiders still respect the man only because his woman, the wife of his youth now shoulders the run of the home.
The man who, once upon a time, discharged - with manly pride - his responsibilities is now introduced to a reality he never would have believed waited for him in the future; his out-of-work days. He doesn't have any problem walking the streets job hunting but the thing is, his daily hunting have been a cycle of fruitless routines. Each day, he returns with nothing but disappointing sighs and bruised hopes.
Somehow, his situation has made him native to deep thinking. His mind is a bird that's never tired of flapping its wings, flying across long stretches, covering issues that bother on bills and fees, expenses that command complete attention. What makes it scarier? He knows more are coming. He is overwhelmed by an avalanche of unmet requests.
In all these, he is grateful that he married the woman he calls wife. It is true that when life was rosy and full of colours, she lacked nothing a truly happy wife should have. But looking back, he is convinced beyond reason, that everything he had ever done for her paled in comparison to all she's doing at the moment. Their children aren't even aware that the family has fallen on a rough patch.
He has come to know experientially the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31. He lives with her. In the midst of the stygian darkness that is his life's condition, she's now become the only glowing spot. He says, one more time, a prayer of gratitude because he didn't just marry, he married a HELP-MEET.