Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Trust and Obey (don't write about the song) (05/21/15)
- TITLE: Esteemation
By Bea Edwards
05/28/15 -
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I know what scripture commands Lord, but how in land’s end am I supposed to obey that meaner than a pole cat galoot?
Why hadn’t he just hollered at me yesterday morning. “You’d think after 45 years Laverne, you might know I like my coffee strong and black as tar, not nambly pambly dish watery?”
And just day before yesterday didn’t he ask me where his clean socks were, AGAIN? Hasn’t he been getting clean socks from his underwear drawer since 1962?
So when I sweetly reminded him, “THEY ARE IN YOUR UNDERWEAR DRAWER,” why in tarnation did he give me that look?
Or Saturday afternoon when I forgot to cut his sandwich into 4 triangles did his lips curl into that sour puss form?
Or more meaningfully early this morning when he moved in for a snuggle did all those thoughts come rushing in as I avoided his approach? Why did I feel the Spirit convicting me…
Can you possibly mean that giving in to his desires is giving in to you Lord? He just doesn’t deserve it Father.
Oh my dear child…It’s not about him -do you trust me? Will you obey me? When I spoke through my apostle Paul that “each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband,” Ephesians 5:33 I was not making a suggestion my child. I was advising that your life and marriage would match up with my original model for marital harmony, if you would simply follow this one command. Respect your husband. It doesn’t matter if he deserves it or not, simply have an attitude of respect for the man I have given you and watch what happens.
But God you don’t understand…
I could feel the tears beginning to form behind my eyes, but I clenched my shoulders and shook them off, afraid to let them flow, frightened of the dam that would burst.
What about that note I found in his jacket?
What about when I followed him to that fancy hotel in Dallas and saw him leaving with his arm around my best friend?
What about that Lord, do you expect me to respect that?
Overwhelmed, I let the tears begin to flow. After they puddled and soaked the tablecloth before me and the sobs finished racking my shoulders, I felt His warm embrace in the sunshine beaming through the kitchen window. I heard Him tenderly whisper His love on the soft breeze that ruffled the paisley curtains.
I determined to follow His guidance.
That night when Sam came storming in the back door, rattling my teeth and the cups in the cabinet as he slammed it shut, I smiled sweetly at him and asked if there was anything I could do.
After shooting me a suspicious look he replied, “Hmm what’s that smell?”
Roast beef...
Letting out a deep breath he approached me, tenderly kissed my forehead, and asked me if he could set the table.
Each day as I intentionally stepped forth to respect my man, he slowly began compassionately displaying his love.
Forgiveness and healing commenced and we turned the page on that old malicious cycle of relating to each other, once I decided to trust my Fathers wise council.
*Loosely based on the principles in Dr. Emerson Eggerich’s book Love and Respect.
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