People will criticize and they will definitely criticize your husband. Rightly or wrongly, this will happen. So what does one do? We all have tender hearts toward ourselves and our loved ones. How does one handle criticism?
First off Be Prepared. Know that it will happen. Don't let it come as a surprise to you. How do we know it will come? Jesus himself told his disciples that he was sending them out like sheep among the wolves (Matt 10).
As someone who walks the way of Christ, criticism will happen. It will happen because we are sinners and we are dealing with sinners. A fallen world that fights against the Lord. The mentally ill, the gossipers, the controllers, the attention seekers and more. They are all part of the people we are called to serve.
So LOVE the body of Christ. Love her despite herself. Show the people that you love them.
Then show grace. You are no better and no worse. Just show grace/mercy and walk in the light of who God has called you be. Treat others with the mercy you would want to be treated with.
And walk humbly with God. Keep your eyes fixed on him. Take Micah 6:8 to heart.
Second: receive the criticism that is launched at you. It may come in ways unexpected, it may be a calm (or intense) face to face meeting. It will come. Just take it, listen to it without reacting to it. Humility demands that we listen to it. As we listen we may prepare an answer, or we may have to simply say, I will get back to you on this.
As you formulate a response you need to consider the following
a) motive - what is the reasoning behind the criticism?
b) yourself - how are you reacting?
c) content - is there something in you that needs facing up to?
d) scripture and God's honour - how do we respond in the light of Scripture, our response must be measured by the Word of God.
e) Christ and his love - how will we continue to show God's love through it?
Lastly, follow through on what you said you would do. Show your integrity. Don't hold a grudge. Let bygones be bygones and move forward.
The chapter closed with a section called "how to lovingly criticize your husband". Love is indeed the rule. Choose carefully when you talk to him. When he's tired might not be the best time. :) Don't criticize him in public. Resolve differences between yourself. Praise him to others...showing a different way to talk about your spouse.