Under Appreciated

I love my wife. I think she knows that but sometimes I'm sure she has to go on faith. Being the poor wretched man that I am, I often forget to let her know how much I truly love her.

She's not just a house mate or a business partner in the business of raising our kids. However, I know I sometimes treat her that way.

I love my wife as much as I love myself - because she is a part of me. Two become one and I could not imagine that never being the case in the future or how it was the case in the past before we met.

Maybe I fail at telling her and showing her how much I love her because she is such a big part of me. I don't look at myself in the mirror each morning and say, "Wow, you sure are beautiful and I love you more today than yesterday". Well that may be an excuse but it's a weak excuse.

New Year's is a time to make resolutions on starting new habits or breaking old ones. Maybe I'll make a Mother's Day resolution that my wife will never need to have the faith of Abraham to know how much I love her.

Happy Mother's Day Mandy.

You make that lady in Proverbs 31 look like an amateur.

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As Christ Loved the Church

Ephesians 5:22-3

This passage can ignite some controversy in our tolerant world view. How dare anyone expect one partner in the marriage be submissive to the other.

This is where the world stops paying attention. The Christian community goes on and reads the rest how the husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church.

The problem is that marriage has no more success within the Christian view as it has in the world view. Christian marriages fail just as often as non-Christian marriages, both failing at an alarming 50% and growing.

Why do Christian marriages fail when these couples should know God’s truth for a successful marriage?

I'd like to blame it on the wives not being submissive. However as the leader in the home, I think the buck stops with the us guys. We are called to love our wives as Christ loves the church. So what exactly does this mean?

To find the answer we have to ask, how does Christ love the church?

Christ sacrificed for us.
Christ died for us.
Christ loves us in spite of our faults.

What does this mean in me?

First, I should always seek God’s will for each and every decision that has an impact on my wife and my family. Which decisions don’t?

I need to show my wife love, honor, and affection everyday even when I am tired and don’t feel like it (sacrifice). I need to put her needs ahead of my own, praying for her and her needs without ceasing (die to self). I need to never react defensively or selfishly based on how I perceive her actions or emotions (love her in spite of all).

As the husband, I am the spiritual leader of our home. As the spiritual leader, I need to be the one to lead the way living out Ephesians 5. God has blessed me with a beautiful, charming, intelligent, and Spirit filled wife. Loving her, honoring her and lifting her up should be my passion, not a just a rule I try to keep.

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