Did your mom clarify anything for you? I must admit the term "unconditional respect" threw me a bit also when it was first mentioned in the sermon, but I try to look at it as me choosing to show respect to another even when they don't deserve it--most especially when they don't deserve it.
Respect the other person simply as a human in the same way that you would like to be respected as a human, regardless of what hat you or they wear--W, H, SO, unethical boss, creepy co-worker, odd neighbor, etc, and their behavior should change in response to your treatment of them. If not, then it would be prudent to remove yourself and keep yourself removed from certain interactions with the ones whose behavior did not change in response to yours. But remember, this cycle of disrespect/unlove was specifically applied in the sermon to the H and W relationship, and NOT to work relationships, etc. If that is still confusing, I am sorry. I am still working it out myself.
Well, as for showing more respect to my H, I am still praying about that. However, several good things happened yesterday that I would like to journal.
>When my H finished his lunch yesterday, he got up and stood behind me and voluntarily gave me a very nice shoulder/back rub while I finished my lunch and read the paper. This is a first and as such, was completely unexpected.
>Last night after dinner, I escaped to the bedroom to watch a show on TV that I like while I left my H in the living room watching one of the Matrix movies for the, ugh, umpteenth time. He will watch all three Matrix movies over and over again, and all three Lord of the Rings movies over and over again, and all three Terminator movies over and over again. (Is this a guy thing or a movie fanatic thing?) I have watched them all with him (big 180 for me) until I can't take anymore, so when he started watching the second Matrix movie last night, AGAIN, like I said, I escaped.
Lo and behold, not long after I was comfortable in the bedroom, he turned off his movie before it was over, came to the bedroom, crawled in bed with me, snuggled and watched MY show with me!! And even liked it!! Then he got up and did some productive Christmas shopping online for a bit before coming to bed for the night.
>This morning, I tried another 180. I would like to think it was a respectful act of service. We had our first hard freeze of the season last night and as a result, H's car was iced up. I took the liberty of having it warmed up and de-iced for him by the time he left for work this morning. He is having his annual performance review today and has been stressing over it. When he ran out the door and found the car all warm and ready to go, he was incredulous!
Now H did make a snide comment this morning at breakfast, and I am not sure at who or what it was directed. There was a story in the paper about this new testosterone patch that women can wear to increase their libido. I am thinking that sounds like a lot of fun! My H's rather grumpy comment on the article was "Well that ought to drive productivity down!" Huh? I am still processing that one.
LG
A blessed and happy marriage is a union of two forgivers and Him, because...a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12.
