Taking Charge

Taking Charge

Husbands, . . . love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.

Ephesians 5:25

Through the years I have edited dozens of books on marriage and family relationships. Some of them I thought offered excellent godly advice, while others were not as strong. Somehow, the books written primarily for men all tended to come back to this verse in Ephesians 5:25, instructing husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. And I often thought, Right, but what mere man could ever actually do that?

It reminds me of the story about one man who was seriously trying to live up to his husbandly role. He went to the local Christian bookstore and bought one of those marriage books that encourage men to stand up and be the heads of their homes. He took it home; read it; and made notes in the margins, underlined statements that seemed important to him, highlighted others. Finally, he finished the book late one night after his wife had already fallen asleep.

The next morning he woke up, looked at his wife, and decided to take charge of his home and family. So he informed her, without stuttering about it, that from that moment on, he was going to be in charge and she would need to obey his every command and meet his every request.

“You’re going to start dressing up before I come home from work. Then you’ll cook a real dinner, not something microwaved, and there will be a homemade dessert. When I’m finished eating, you will draw my bath, with bubbles, so I can relax. And beyond that, guess who’s going to shave me, dress me, and comb my hair in the mornings?”

His wife looked him straight in the eye and said, “The funeral director.”

Somehow, I think he missed the point.

Heavenly Father, please teach us how to treat those we love the most with dignity, courtesy, and kindness. Help us not to take each other for granted. Amen.