Tiredness and Respect

There are just some nights that I wish I could clone myself. Last night was one of them. I am at a loss to know if it was the noise of the heater coming on, or her tummy, or pre-teething fussiness that kept waking Olivia up. Whatever it was got the girl up to eat 4 times last night. It's nights like this that make for a very tired, zombie-like Mama the next day. Andrew was kind enough to bring her to me this morning b/c at that point, my ears were in denial of the small fussing sounds coming across the monitor. "Surely....that can't be her!"

This morning, the child is playing rather contentedly at my feet, safely contained in a laundry basket with her blanket, "fluff" and a few toys. With so many boxes and moving chaos littered about the house, I'm finding this to be a safe area for her to play. It's rather convenient for her teething needs too, since there is a nice clean basket edge to chew on within gum's reach. Oh yes and I might explain that a "fluff" is a crocheted square I made up from a soft remnant of yarn. It's become a nap/bedtime essential as Olivia will bury her face and lace a finger or to into it before she can begin a proper nap. It's pretty cute.

For the past month or two, a few church friends and I have been gathering to go through Nancy Wilson's book "The Fruit of her Hands". It's been an excellent study and very refreshing to work through with like-minded ladies. This week's chapter is on the issue of respect. Mrs. Wilson does a fantastic job shoring everything up with scripture, and is brutally honest with the disrespect women can have toward their husbands. I would think her harsh if I hadn't heard of the disrespect present in the lives of so many Christian women. The general outcry is "My husband doesn't lead!". While this may be true, Mrs. Wilson points back to the scriptures, exhorting believing women to respect their husbands, not just when they feel like it, but in obedience to God and His word. Respect is an option, but a command. She goes on to encourage women to practice being prayerful, and thankful, noting the good attributes in their husbands. When women focus on the negative, that's probably all they're going to see, and instead of whining or gossiping, PRAY for your husband! Since the gentler sex tends to be more vocal in complaint, this kind of in-your-face truth seems most appropriate.

This teaching harmonized beautifully with a discussion I just had with my Dad. Their church was recently blessed through a conference given by Gregg Harris (homeschooling pioneer, and father of authors Josh, Alex and Brett Harris). Dad shared with me about the conference and the various topics he covered, one of which was on respect. Mr. Harris encouraged ladies to respect and love their husbands into leadership. What a concept, huh?

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words but the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." 1 Peter 3:1-2

My prayer for the women of the church (local and universal) is that we will be women of the word, lovers of our husbands, and be characterized by quiet and gentle spirits. Just as God bears patiently with our own sins and short comings, may our love toward our husbands, unconditionally, and in all things, sharpen us all to a greater image of Christ-likeness.