Lack of Respect
Lack of Respect
Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. (1 Tim. 3:11)
My alarm blared loudly, and I reached across my night table to shut it off. After a brief stretch I silently got out of bed so I wouldn’t wake Darrin, pulled the door shut behind me, and made my way to the first light switch. Click. After my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw Darrin’s video game machine lying on the family room floor. A few of his games were lying next to it. I sighed. I really didn’t understand what it was that drew him to these games.
“Why does he leave this stuff all over the place?” I muttered angrily. I didn’t expect to hear an audible reply.
“I didn’t do it, Mom,” my son, Carter, replied as he stood in the hall. “Dad must have forgotten to put it away last night.”
“Hi, honey,” I replied. “I know. I’m sorry—I shouldn’t gripe like that. God doesn’t like it when we grumble against other people.”
“It’s OK, Mom,” Carter replied, as he shuffled off to get ready for school.
I prayed silently, Lord, please forgive me for complaining about Darrin like that. I know You want me not only to respect him but also to show our son what respect looks like.
The enemy usually starts his dirty work in our thought lives. A simple thought, such as, What on earth was he thinking? or comparing your husband to the neighbor next door or to a coworker can eventually grow into a lack of respect. If you find yourself thinking or speaking poorly about your husband, ask God to help you focus on the positive things he does. If you have an issue, ask God to show you how to approach it in a way that shows respect and a willingness to listen.