Apr 2 - 1 Peter 3:1,7

Be good wives to your husbands,

responsive to their needs. ...

The same goes for you husbands:

Be good husbands to your wives.

Honor them, delight in them. ...

Treat your wives, then, as equals

so your prayers don't run aground.

1 Peter 3:1,7

^MSG

Did you ever watch "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best"?

They're television shows from another era. But for a moment, imagine those stereotypical patterns of family life.

Dad goes off to the office. He works hard all day. When he comes home, his wife meets him at the door. Wearing an elegant dress and pearls, she ushers him to the den. Hushing the children -- "Your father's tired" -- she encourages him to put his feet up and read the afternoon paper in quiet peacefulness.

Now, let me tell you a secret. Men still want that when they come home! We're tired. We've dealt all day with with unreasonable coworkers, impatient clients, and impossible dilemmas. We've poured ourselves out all day to win the bread for our little family, and we want nothing more than, "Thanks. You're our hero. Everybody be quiet and let daddy relax for awhile."

That's realistic. That's what men want and maybe even deserve.

What's not realistic is the similar exhaustion that mom feels. Mom's day is rarely an elegant dress and pearls. More often it's diapers and spaghetti on the carpet. It's seven hours of work for her too ... the three hours of carpool, grocery shopping, homework, and laundry. What's realistic is mom needing to put her feet up too.

(Can we spend just one evening with our feet up and let the kids serve us?!)

There's one more Love Language that Gary Chapman doesn't talk about in his seminal book -- Respect.

Men live on Respect. Men may appreciate other Love Languages (especially Physical Touch), but we live on Respect. We need to know that what we do is appreciated.

Women appreciate appreciation too!(And with as many balls as most women juggle, they often deserve it more than some of us men.) Nevertheless, women tend to spell “love” in more traditional ways -- flowers and gifts, whispered "sweet nothings" and affirmations, and most of all, quality time and attention.

But here's our focus in these days: Men and women, how can we all do better at showing respect? at showing appreciation? at noticing the effort ... and then saying something positive about it?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who doesn't sing

like Aretha Franklin

(I spell "respect"

T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U)

Question: In your relationships, how can you do better at showing respect? at showing appreciation? at noticing the effort ... and then saying something positive about it?