Marriage Monday~

I was thinking Monday would be a good day to 'journal' about Marriage!

What girl doesn't like to think, talk, or read about marriage? I know I do. My Mom did not tell me much about marriage before I got married. I don't know why. She was a quiet person and was rather private ~ even with me and my sister Robyn. She told me later after I had been married awhile that her Mom never said one word about marriage or being a wife.

After turning to my Bible to see what God said, I needed application ideas. I was blessed to be living at a time in history when books on marriage were plenty at the book store and in the library. So I read all I could find the first year of marriage. I read lots and lots. I think back and am amazed at how naive I was as I walked down the aisle to get married. I must add some of the authors were very good and godly, some were worldly and nasty. I tried to stay away from the nasty ones.

A very very very good book I would recommend to every older girl to read is "Let Me Be a Woman" by Elisabeth Elliot. My girls will each be given their own copy soon. It is a book written from Elisabeth to her daughter, Valerie the year before she marries. It is packed full of wisdom, insight and things girls should know about men. I found it a delightful read.

One thing I have been thinking a lot about is love and respect. The Bible tells husbands to 'love' their wives. God knows that is what we NEED. It also tells us as wives to 'respect' our husbands. Go back and look up the passage, it doesn't say for the wife to 'love' her husband. Respect is to men what love is to women. I love my own husband so much. YET---he NEEDS my respect. Showing respect is different than showing him love.

How so, you ask! Well, respect is what HE needs....so as a wife I should be studying how to show my husband respect. I could make a list a page and half long. You see, I have learned the hard way! I have many times blundered in this area.

• Do I interrupt him as he speaks?
• Do I interject as he explains?
  
• Do I say 'turn here' as he drives?
• Do I frown at him when I should be smiling at him?
• Do I say 'don't forget.....' ---I am not his mother!
• Do I say 'yes, sir--please--thank you and you are right often!
  
• If I need help do I 'tell' him to do such and such or do I ask sweetly?
• How many times have I contradicted something....even little things? Very disrespectful!
• How easily do I defer to his choice.
• Do I build him up in front of the kids?
• How often do I compliment him, esteem him, tell him how great he is?
• What do I do to show him I appreciate his manhood?
• Look for manly things to compliment...not feminine~
• Did you know being 'unhappy' in public is a public rebuke to your husband?
  

These are just some of the biggies for me. For you the list would be different. This is just a very tiny list of ways I can show respect or fail to do so. I have failed many times. God forgives me and so does my hubby. I have learned to humble myself and ask forgiveness, which is a very good thing.

Let's give our husbands what they NEED, what they desire. Remember respect to your man is like love ...only different! HE will love you for it! This is a lifelong process....keep at it!

Enjoy your marriage today ~ God's gift to YOU!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Lynette