I use to wonder what exactly this thing "love" is. And, I know some time ago I wrote about it, multiple times. But, every so often things happen to change the way you think about a certain things, love being one of them. So, after being educated more about love and relationships (mainly what it says in the bible) I finally understand. I understand it so much.......that I almost feel like I'm ready for marriage, mentally.
Some of the things I've learned, I really feel are the "key players" in a successful marriage. Now, you don't have to be a Christian to have a successful marriage, but I do think you should at least understand these things to have it. So, enough of me talking about how we need to understand it, and let me say what it is we should understand. I'll start with men.
MEN
So, in the Christian wording, men need to Love their wives like God loves the Church. You got that? How bout this, a marriage is a union between a couple. They become one. So, a man should love his wife as if she was his own flesh, because no man would mistreat is own flesh, nor should he mistreat his wife. Nor should a man speak to his wife out of his right mind, or let anyone else do so. Your wife is your queen. She should all ways be considered in everything you do.
So what does that mean? Love your wife, NO MATTER WHAT!! But also, you should learn how to love your wife. What a man may think is showing love, may not be so for his wife. Of course, a wife needs to communicate that. A man needs to be the head of the house, but at the same time realize that a head is nothing without a body. He needs to be the Quarterback of the offense, but realize he's not the only one on the field.
Women
Plain and simple, respect your husband. To take it a step further, women should have 'reverence' for their husbands. Reverence beans to have the utmost respect and awe for their husbands. Not only that but she should be submissive to their husbands.
Now, in observing the bible class I was in, even Christian women have a problem with this. Because of the amount of individuality that the world has embedded in us, it seems just.....so out there. But look at marriages that last. Is the man the clear head of the household? Yes he is. Is the wife submissive? Yes she is. But like mentioned in the mens section, your husband shouldn't be making you do some crazy stuff anyhow.
Clearly, marriage is a 2-way street. It's team work. Men have their roles, and women have theirs. As long as both people are doing their parts, it can work. In fact, it's easier when both do their part. When a man loves a woman like he should, I'm sure it's much easier for her to show reverence for him and if women show reverence, it's much easier for a woman to love. Of course, all that comes down to their respective characters.
But....what if one person doesn't do their part in the system? Well, the bible COMMANDS us to do these things. Meaning, men, even if your wife doesn't respect you, you need to love her anyways. And women, even if your husband doesn't love you like he should, or even at all, you should be showing reverence for him. That's some deep stuff right there. But in those cases, all you can do is pray you're actions speak....LOUD.
