Week 17
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it...and the wife must respect her husband."
A lot of marriages fail because both people fail at those simple, yet challenging concepts. When things aren't going well, the man is tempted to hold back love from his wife. That could be a lack of "I love you", ignoring physical touch, losing the romantic side, etc.
On the other end, a wife will hold back her respect when the marriage becomes a little rocky. She might even be able to justify it, but that is no excuse. Harsh words, speaking down about her husband in front of her friends, and showing a lack of respect in his presence.
When a man feels he isn't respected by his wife, he doesn't usually want to show her love. When a woman feels she isn't loved by her husband, she will not respect him. This can be like a "chicken or the egg" scenario.
It doesn't matter what came first. What does matter is that it stops. It would be nice if both people can realize that. But usually it starts with just one person. The husband, even when respect hasn't been given lately, can be the bigger person and offer love to his wife often. Or the wife, even when love hasn't been given lately, can be the bigger person and give her husband respect...even if it hasn't been earned.
Either way, the crux of marriage often goes back to love and respect. Love your wife and she will respect you. It is often as simple as that.
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