Men.need.respect.

I am fully convinced that Satan has a special hatred for marriage and relationships heading that direction. And why wouldn’t he? Marriage is the sweetest, most perfect picture of God’s covenant with his bride, the Church.

Here is a small example in my life where I can see him (the enemy) at work. You are not so sneaky, coward.

I am reading a book entitled “For Women Only” by Shaunti Feldahn and the first part of the book talks a great deal about how for men to feel loved they need to feel respected.
I gained some great insight into fleshing out respect for the men in my life. Insight that is practical and applicable in everyday life. I am so thankful for that.
I found myself applying all these wonderful new insights to all of my male students, no matter the age. I let all my male students figure everything out on their own ( see “A Few Insights” below) and gave them extra instructions to give them more power over handling the horse. It was wonderful to build them up in the unique way they were created and watch them flourish.

But… not 3 hours later, when I was with my boyfriend, whom I love and respect above all men aside my dad, I seemed to have lost all insight gained. Or more plausibly, Satan was working overtime in a relationship seeking God and marriage.
Coleman was checking us out at Kroger at the Self-Checkout line, flipping through the vegetables to find the carrots and bells, and some how I found my fingers on the screen flipping against him back to the carrots….. I was trying to assist and even take over the STUPIDEST task that Coleman is MORE than capable of. In fact I am dating a man that can literally do anything. And I am not the type of person who needs to help out. So this is clearly something unseen at work.
There you have it.
But I am fully victorious in Christ. And today is a new day.

A few insights:
1) Men like to figure things out on their own and need you to trust that he can.
– If you don’t what you are really telling him is “You are stupid and inadequate” and “I don’t trust you”
2) Men need to be built up in public
–Any small joke at a man’s expense can strike a cord of insecurity in him and show a great deal of disrespect. (Ladies that also goes for when he is not around. )
3) We should always assume the best of them.

All of these things apply. No matter how much he has “earned” or not earned it.

“The only time a guy’s guard is completely down is with the woman he loves. So she can pierce his heart like no one else.”
Such a great responsibility we have women.

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~ by raeleroy on March 17, 2011.