My Wife's parents passed away a few years ago. I recall my wife mentioning to me how her mom had told her that they got along fine when they were alone but, when the kids(grown kids) came over, the whole tone changed and they were at odds with each other; there was conflict. I recall, many times, grandma correcting grandpa in front of us. I also remember him leaving family gatherings, at his home, going off, and working around his shed and I remember his kids, my brothers and sisters in law, complaining about him being out there instead of inside visiting with the family. Maybe he couldn't handle the disrespect?
Once, when my motherinlaw came to stay at our house, she, my wife and our daughter were sitting around the table talking when my motherinlaw goes off talking about "beards"(I have a goatee). She says "I don't like Tom's beard, or Dick's beard, and Harry's beard etc etc until she came to me, raised her voice and said "and I don't like XXXX's beard". I said nothing. A few minutes later she got up, walked across our living room, stopped and said "did that make you mad?" "You know. I wasn't going to say anything, but now that you mentioned it".... and I let her know just how I felt about her words and attitude (verbally of course). Now you might think my Wife would not have appreciated her mom for saying those things but, you'd be wrong. My wife and daughter instantly stepped in to defend grandma. But I had had enough. Anyway, grandma is gone, God rest her soul, but I feel I've provided a fraction of the background, and I'm still dealing with some of the effects.
I just got off the phone with my wife, she was out with her sister and our daughter. I'm at my office, called about a business matter and she was disrespectful and dismissive over the phone. She spoke to me like I was bothering her, in front of them. It's not the first time. I have had her call me down and humiliate me in front of all our kids in a crowded restaurant. When she did it, I was silent for a few seconds, then quietly said "lets go" At least she agreed to leave with me. She has let our kids backtalk and scold me without stepping in or saying a word. . I have had her stand back and say nothing when I was fussed and cussed at by a stranger in my own yard. What's that MLK said about the words of our enemies and the "silence of our friends"?
Ok, so I continually try to work on my part in this.......
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1 Peter 3: 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Woops.....where did that one come from? Why would Ephesians 5:33 tell a wife to "reverence her husband" if that just comes naturally to her AFTER the husband does his part and "leads"? I've heard preachers say that if the man shapes up, she will submit and follow. And if that's not true (which it isn't) then what if she doesn't read scriptures like Ephesians 5:22-24 ? What if she doesn't learn about "defraud not ye one the other"? Surely it would be a big "no no" for her husband to read stuff that to her; that would be controlling and manipulative. So why do pastors tell wives what a great job they're doing, on Mother's Day, and scold the men on Father's Day? The scriptures don't do that?
"When the husband is the right kind of head, there is no problem with the wife being submissive"- Chuck Swindoll
Really Chuck?
Once, when my motherinlaw came to stay at our house, she, my wife and our daughter were sitting around the table talking when my motherinlaw goes off talking about "beards"(I have a goatee). She says "I don't like Tom's beard, or Dick's beard, and Harry's beard etc etc until she came to me, raised her voice and said "and I don't like XXXX's beard". I said nothing. A few minutes later she got up, walked across our living room, stopped and said "did that make you mad?" "You know. I wasn't going to say anything, but now that you mentioned it".... and I let her know just how I felt about her words and attitude (verbally of course). Now you might think my Wife would not have appreciated her mom for saying those things but, you'd be wrong. My wife and daughter instantly stepped in to defend grandma. But I had had enough. Anyway, grandma is gone, God rest her soul, but I feel I've provided a fraction of the background, and I'm still dealing with some of the effects.
I just got off the phone with my wife, she was out with her sister and our daughter. I'm at my office, called about a business matter and she was disrespectful and dismissive over the phone. She spoke to me like I was bothering her, in front of them. It's not the first time. I have had her call me down and humiliate me in front of all our kids in a crowded restaurant. When she did it, I was silent for a few seconds, then quietly said "lets go" At least she agreed to leave with me. She has let our kids backtalk and scold me without stepping in or saying a word. . I have had her stand back and say nothing when I was fussed and cussed at by a stranger in my own yard. What's that MLK said about the words of our enemies and the "silence of our friends"?
Ok, so I continually try to work on my part in this.......
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1 Peter 3: 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Woops.....where did that one come from? Why would Ephesians 5:33 tell a wife to "reverence her husband" if that just comes naturally to her AFTER the husband does his part and "leads"? I've heard preachers say that if the man shapes up, she will submit and follow. And if that's not true (which it isn't) then what if she doesn't read scriptures like Ephesians 5:22-24 ? What if she doesn't learn about "defraud not ye one the other"? Surely it would be a big "no no" for her husband to read stuff that to her; that would be controlling and manipulative. So why do pastors tell wives what a great job they're doing, on Mother's Day, and scold the men on Father's Day? The scriptures don't do that?
"When the husband is the right kind of head, there is no problem with the wife being submissive"- Chuck Swindoll
Really Chuck?