how to treat a woman

flowers on my friend's porch, summer 2008

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved." ~ written in the Hebrew Talmud

some women are wild horses ~ part 2

Written by my incredibly wise and enlightened husband in July 2008. He wrote this after realizing that for many years he had taken me for granted. To be fair, I had taken him for granted too. For him to understand me in ways he hasn't before, well, I can't help but be deeply grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful and affirming man.

You can see it in their eyes...the fire, the knowing look, the sense of purpose. It's an inner strength, a deeply complex personality that defies all efforts to be controlled by others. You can't put your finger on it, but it's there...it's real, it's unmistakable. It's a passion, be it ever so quiet, that dwells just below the surface in many women. It's a desire to be free, to run, to pursue the desires of one's heart. To learn, to create, to develop God-given giftings and explore the world as they see it. In many ways, this passion, this need to be free can only be compared to the strength and passion of a wild horse...free, unbridled and strong.

"Love does not dominate; it cultivates." ~ Johann Wolfgang Goethe

wives submit to your husbands

This is a short post, considering the subject matter. And let me preface this by saying that abusive men are discounted from everything I say below. You've excused yourself from what Christ requires of you, so your wives are not obliged to subject themselves to something contrary to Scripture. Just my opinion.

I was telling my husband that I feel those "in love" feelings toward him when he affirms me, when he loves me unconditionally, especially when I feel overwhelmed with fears or am buckling under the weight of the world. That reminded me of the scripture where it says "Husbands love your wives....". It made me wonder about "wives submit to your husband". What if it means wives accept your husbands love, receive his words, embrace his nurturing, choose to rest in the words he speaks to you through his God-given love for you....

Others might think, nah, it means women should obey their husbands, but I'm thinking that's a very base way of interpreting it.

Must ponder this more!