In a recent article, I offered up five ways a wife can show respect to her husband. Well, now, it’s the men’s turn. As it stands, respect is a two-way street. However, the respect from man to woman has somewhat of a different feel. As previously quoted from Ephesians 5:33, a husband “must love his wife as he loves himself.” When you say to a man “respect your wife,” you’re asking him to bring Ephesians 5:33 alive. Ultimately, that love shows up in a variety of ways. As Aretha might say, here are five ways to R-E-S-P-E-C-T your wife:
Husbands: 5 Ways to R-E-S-P-E-C-T Your Wife
In this article:
Lead her up
One of the most important ways to lead your wife in a relationship is to humble out when you’re wrong. The popular belief that admitting one’s fault is a sign of weakness is absolutely not true. Personally, I count it as a strength of character when a person in authority can own up to his or her mistakes and humble out. Similarly in marriage, when you humble yourself and admit your mistakes to your wife, you convey how much you respect her.
When the head of the family honestly and willingly takes responsibility for his mistakes, whether done intentionally or not, he demonstrates how much he values and respects his relationship with his wife.
Size her up
What wife doesn’t like to be gawked at by her husband? A great sign of respect to a woman is when her man appreciates her sexy. Making your wife feel admired for her appearance is a way to demonstrate respect. In an odd way, you further solidify the trust in your marriage as she sees your admiration as a contributing fact to your fidelity. She feels you only have eyes for her because your actions say so. You make her feel adored, secured and respected and even more so in public places.
https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TNMCoupleKissIntimate-294x196.jpg 294w, https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TNMCoupleKissIntimate-390x260.jpg 390w" alt="" width="600" height="400" />
Build her up
Paying full attention to what your wife has to say and putting away any form of distraction during a meaningful conversation with her shows how important what she has to say means to you. If you respect her, you will also try not to cut her off during conversations. You will give her room to express her thoughts. This ensures her that you understand her and respect her opinions, ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Additionally, making time for your wife consistently no matter how busy your schedule shows that she comes first, everything else is secondary. This action backs up your words of how much you love and cherish her as commanded by God. By taking the time to build her up as a priority in your relationship, you effectively strengthen the bond you formed when you said: “I do.”
Talk her up
There are times in a marriage when misunderstandings arise and the temptation to say nasty things about her behavior is strong. But speaking ill of her in the presence of family members, friends, or acquaintances is great sign of disrespect. It doesn’t matter if it was done in her absence. Complaining and making bad jokes about her simply shows how low you place her. No matter the level of misunderstanding you have, public affirmation of your wife depicts her importance to you and your respect for her.
Pray her up
This is simple. Your wife needs your prayers. She needs you to fight for her spiritually because yes, she gets weary. Take her dreams, her fears, her wants, and her needs to God on her behalf. Your relationship will grow so much stronger because there is a respect she will feel knowing you don’t see her as weak and needy, but human. When you have given her everything you have to give, prayer lets her know you respect her enough to give her even more.
There’s no doubt that the respect a man has for his wife is tied up in how much he loves her. Still, according to Ephesians 5:33, that’s exactly what God intended.
BMWK husbands, are you ready to respect your wife?
Comments