Dec 16, 2013

Wives, Respect Your Husbands

Rats! I didn’t get a chance to do the laundry this weekend. Too busy doing fun stuff. And now it’s time to go to work, so I can’t start it now.

Hmmmm, Don may get home early, and he sometimes does the laundry. OK, I’ll take a few minutes and sort it for him…just in case he has a chance to do it.

As I started to carry the basket of dirty clothes into the hallway for sorting, I felt the Lord’s nudge: Put it back, he can handle it. Then the arguments, and answers, started.

What if something gets ruined because he doesn’t sort it right? Well, I don’t really have anything that can’t be replaced.

What if he fills the machine too full? I’ve already noticed he doesn’t do that. And really, so what if he does?

Then I started thinking about past areas where Don has pitched in to help around the house, willingly and graciously. And about how I’ve treated him.

Old ways: “Don’t put that on the bottom rack of the dishwasher, it doesn’t go there.” 

Recent past: “Thanks for loading the dishwasher.”  Then, after he left the room, I’d rearrange the items…and he caught me more than a few times.

Now: “Thank you for loading the dishwasher, honey.” 

Old ways: “Don’t do it that way, do it this way.”  (“It” could be just about anything.)

Recent past: “Here’s a suggestion, maybe you could try doing it this way.”

Now: “That looks nice, thank you for doing it.”  Or, just plain old silence. (And once I stopped competing and correcting, I learned a few things from him.)

Here is the hidden message that Don processed.

Old ways: Let me correct you and tell you the right way to do things…you’re not smart enough to figure it out for yourself.

Recent past: I can save you some trouble if you listen to me, but it’s up to you. I mean, really, I do know a better way…..

Now: I respect you and trust you, you’re the best.

All these thoughts happened in a few short minutes. I don’t live in the “now” all the time, but I’ve come a long way. Just ask Don, he’ll tell you.


I put the basket back in the closet, and thanked God that I have such an amazing husband.


TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Wives, how do you show respect and appreciation for your husband? 

4 comments:

  1. You learned this at a younger age than I did! Some things....most things....don't matter whether the are done 'right' (translation: our way) or not. Good lesson.

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    1. Thanks, mom, for your comment and for your endless encouragement. I'm a blessed daughter!

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  2. God certainly does have us on the same wavelength! I'm a little strong headed (little? hahaha) God's been showing me the times I just take over and leave Charlie to follow along. I've been working on letting him take the lead and show him how much I trust and respect him.
    So, what's our next lesson, Mary? :)

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    1. LOL, I don't know, but I know there'll be one :-). Isn't it something how we really do trust and respect our husbands and yet demonstrate it so poorly. With God changing us and leading us, we're on the right track. Thank you for your comment, Sherry!

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