So this is piecing...

[trustinginHim]

Heard an interesting marriage sermon this morning (see ** below for credit). It was about the crazy cycle of unlove and disrespect that can develop between a H and his W. According to scripture, the Lord calls for the H to love his W, but for the W to respect her H. Now I am not saying that wives don't like to be respected, nor am I saying that husbands don't like to be loved, but instead and according to scripture, love is primary for wives and respect is primary for husbands. I hope that makes sense.

Imagine a circle and at the 12 o'clock position it says "Without love". At the 3 position it says "She reacts". At the 6 position it says "Without respect" and at the 9 position it says "He reacts."

Starting at the 12 position for example's sake (the cycle can start at any point on the circle) and traveling clockwise, if the W perceives or believes that she is not receiving or is without love from her H, following the circle, she will react to that and will respond to her H with little or no respect. When the H feels/perceives that he is getting little or no respect from his W, he then reacts and responds without love for his W. The cycle simply continues until the H or W makes a conscious effort to break it.

Are you experiencing this crazy cycle in YOUR marriage or R? I know I have been and still am to an extent today. I have made the choice however, to be the one to break it for good in my M. Starting today, I am going to put my H to the "respect test". You husbands reading this can put your W's to the "love test."

I will be praying for the Lord to reveal to me new and different ways to show respect and tell my H of my respect and also for Him to remove any remaining disrespect I have for my H hidden and not so hidden in my heart. My goal will be to have my H start demonstrating and feeling more love for me. Yes, I know that is a rather vague goal at this point, but I don't really know how he will respond yet, and I must learn to be more observant so I will know what to look for. Of course, I will post what I see happen.

LG--looking to empower herself by learning to better respect her H as the Lord calls for her to do

**from Dr. James Dobson and his Focus on the Family program