Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Heroes (03/08/04)
TITLE: SIGH ... My Hero! By Donna Haug 03/13/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
By: Donna Haug
March 13, 2004
OK, ladies. It’s confession time. How many of you as you were growing up dreamed of the day when you would meet “Mr. Right”? How did you picture him? Did you think that someday, somehow you would ‘just know’ and your knight in shining armor would sweep you off your feet? Could you see yourself batting your lovely eyelashes at him and sighing … “My hero”? Well, maybe you weren’t such a ditzy teenager. But just maybe you thought he would be someone you could trust absolutely, someone who would be always sensitive to your feelings, a strong leader and of course above all else one who loved God supremely and served Him wholeheartedly.
Did you find him?
Did you ever dream that he would have faults and failures? I bet you didn’t conceive of the notion that your beloved knight would ever leave his shining armor on the bathroom floor! Did you really think your “strong leader” wouldn’t be telling YOU what to do? Soon after the honeymoon most lovey-dovey couples face a great reality check. No matter how well you know the guy before you get married, you can count on a few eye openers from your dashing hero.
So what are you to do when you suddenly realize your knight wants you to buff his armor daily and know exactly where HE left his javelin the night before? When he leaves the feeding of his horse to you, not to mention bathing it and putting it to bed, will you still feel like batting those lashes in his general direction?
There comes a point in every wife’s life when she has to make a DECISION to respect and honor her husband. Every fiber of your being will be crying out in frustration or anger. You will be ‘fluffing the pillows’ with all the gentleness of a boxer and in your heart you will cry out to God. As you do, the still small voice will whisper through the tumult, “My child, I know it’s not easy right now, but I expect you to respect your husband! (Eph. 5:33) Trust me! I know what is best for you and for your relationship.” Your heart may still balk at the prodding of the Lord as your defenses rise up and you insist that you know better, or that he’s wrong in what he said or did. But if you take God at his word, you will discover something amazing. A man needs to be respected. If you as his wife are always nagging at him and trying to ‘fix’ him, then he will feel that you do not honor him. On the other hand, if you show respect, quite often God will give you the opportunity to speak to your man in love, gently reminding him to hang up his armor so that it won’t rust.
Perhaps you feel that your knight’s armor is already so corroded that he can’t even get off the couch anymore. How could you possibly respect him? Well, my lady, all I can say is that when we do things God’s way He gives us peace within our own hearts. We are responsible before God for OUR actions and thoughts. Let God deal with him in His way and in His time. He may use you to buff the rusty spots and oil his joints or He may use a different way. But one thing the Bible is clear on – you must respect.
Look up to your husband. Find those positive qualities in him that you admire. You may possibly have to search for a while, but once you’ve found that treasure, hold it dear to your heart. Let him know how much you appreciate that about him. The more you treat him with respect, the more worthy of respect he will become!
May God give you the strength today to look at your husband straight in the eye and, with a smile on your face honestly say, (sigh!)“My hero!”