I remember hearing this line a long time ago... "Guys have it so easy!" This in reference to how we dress, what we eat, how we lose weight, the fact we don't have monthly "issues," You get the idea. I can see how someone close to me would believe I actually think this way... I've often joked, "It's good to be King!" meaning I can do basically whatever I want. That is after I've cleared it with my wife. But the truth is, I rarely check things with my wife and I don't have it so easy because, while I may lose weight easily, I bear the weight of responsibility for my family, heavily!
Yesterday I made the bold statement that the success of a marriage is not dependent upon our wives but the strong leadership of men who are married to them. But before you go gettin all Gloria Steinem on me, let me put it in clear context. My words are only taking to heart the message of a man who lived in a dominantly dominant male society and who had the audacity to say it was the responsibility of men to follow Christ and love their wives as Christ loved the Church. (Eph.5:25) Over the years, I have had the "conversation." You know the one where a strong, independent woman pulls me aside and begins to tell me how times are different and culture has yielded to more civilized forms of rolls and respect. That women need not find themselves; their identity or worth in what a man thinks or does and she is as capable, if not MORE capable of doing what men do and we should all get over our sexist prejudices and promote equality without thought for what's inside the pants. Every time I hear this; I smile, nod my head, let her finish and say... "I completely agree." Although once I was scolded for just patronizing I mostly get a look of confusion and the question, "Why?"
A person's abilities, whether male or female, has nothing to do with authority and submission. In the military as well as other civilian occupations there are qualified, capable folks along the chain of command that could easily out perform and lead more successfully than their officers and direct reports. Yet, submission is essential for "order" and authority is crucial for health. This is very true in my marriage: Although I lead, my wife submits and together we have order and we have a complete, whole perspective of how our lives work together. It's healthy. Our bodies work the same way, the blood in the body is essential but the heart commands the blood's orders one beat at a time. One without the other can not survive... Well, you say the analogy breaks down here because men and women can survive without the other. In fact, some survive better without the other! I disagree; they do better outside a bad relationship, one out of order and counter-authority. But a true godly marriage, where respect for submission and authority exists, shows equality in position and harmony in practice... in other words; no one is sitting around going, "I can't believe I'm not allowed to..." or "When am I going to get my chance?"
If you're a guy you have it good and you need to make it better! If you're a gal you have it good and you too need to make it better! What's it going to take today for you to notice just how good you have it and just how good it can get?
BTW - the remote controls are a joke!
