Ephesians 5:33b: And the wife should respect her husband.
Respect is his primary need, his deepest desire.

I Put My Followers First

Monday, December 21, 2009

How to Wake the Snoring Spouse

I've been dealing with a sinus infection the past few days.  Hacking, sneezing, using more tissue than my own personal annual allotment.  Most noticeably, I have been having great difficulty getting a good night's sleep.  I have been waking up at least five times every night - to blow my nose or to flush the drink-plenty-of-fluids from my body.

I have paid little attention to the impact this has on my dear husband.

In the wee hours of the morning I was wakened to the whispered and gentle questioning of my husband.  I say "gentle" because he had softly placed his stroked hand on my shoulder and was quietly asking, "Are you okay?"

I was perfectly fine, I thought.  I had been sleeping fitfully but I had been sleeping.  I assured him that I was well and rolled over, snuggling deeply into my pillow and drifting off once more.  Mere seconds passed before I woke myself with my own snoring.

It was then - and only then - that I realized what had happened.  This had not been the first time during my sickness - nor the first time in my marriage - that I awakened to find my husband's gentle hand on my shoulder and asking "Are you okay?'

This is his way of waking the snoring spouse.  I like his example.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

I Love a Man Who Cries

Even the greatest of all men, Jesus, wept.

When the tears are honest and heartfelt, I see crying as a strength in men. To hide from all emotion for the sake of controlling a frightening few is weakness.

Some emotions are frightening; emotions capable of causing individuals to lose control of their actions. Outbursts of violence and rage come from dangerous emotions that cannot be controlled. Hiding from such emotions is appropriate. But it is weakness to choose to avoid the experience of all emotions for the sake of control over the few.

It takes strength to control the bad and to fully experience the good. A complete man is one who can experience positive emotions (such as compassion, loss or love) to the fullest, sometimes to the point of tears.

~

Is crying a sign of weakness in men?

Can I get an Amen?