The beauty in the mystery.

Tonight Holly and I decided to go to Florence to have a nice night-on-the-town-that-isn't-our-town before she goes to Disney World tomorrow. We started off in Old Navy, which was amazing because I love their clothes. I've always wanted a pair of ripped jeans. This part has nothing to do with the main purpose of this blog. But anyway, the jeans were like $35 a pair. And the ones on sale were still $23. So I was like, SWEET - I'm getting some of the ones on sale! But no. They had the size above mine. They had the size below mine. But did they have my size? Unless you're confused and you didn't read the statements before this one, then you would know that no they did not have my size. That was not cool to me. But God was just setting up something for me. He likes to do that.

After we left Old Navy we went to Books-A-Million. Now, I'm not a big book-buyer, but I love reading other peoples' books. That they already bought. With their money. And they already read. And figured out if it was stupid. But tonight I felt I was going to get a book. So I took my lovely stack of 9 books and Holly took her 3 and we sat down to skim. I'm not sure Holly even got past her first book. She knew that was what she wanted. But she wasn't feeling to keen on spending 15 bucks on it. However, I felt God wanted her to have that book so I offered to pay for half of it so she didn't have to spend too much money since she was going to have to have money to blow at Disney World! And then I got to the bottom of my stack of books and started reading "Angry Conversations with God." I picked it up because the title was so ridiculous I knew it had to be interesting. I haven't continued reading it as of yet, but there in the store I knew I needed it. So, instead of buying a pair of ripped jeans that do nothing for my spiritual growth, I spent the 35 bucks on two books that will help Holly and I grow closer to God. We plan to swap when we finish with the books. I love how God kept me in check. He knew I was going to come across that book. I'm convinced that's why there were no jeans in my size.


But like I said, not the main point. The purpose of this blog is to bring to everyone's attention something that Holly brought to my attention as we skimmed books in the bookstore.

Ephesians 5:22 - "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." & 5:25 - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"

Have you ever wondered why God didn't tell husbands to respect their wives or wives to love their husbands? Usually when this passage of scripture is discussed, the main focus is on the relationship between Christ and the church. Awesome. That is definitely something that should be taken away (when you have all of the verses together). But I also believe this is something that husbands and wives, and men and women, and friends and lovers, should all think about.

God knows us inside and out. He knew us before we were formed, and He will know us forevermore. Think of the women in your life. Are they not loving? You may so no, but think... really think. It is natural for a woman to love. They give themselves. They give their time, their energy, their all to show a man that they love him. Women fall in love in moments, adore animals, and bask in the cuteness of babies. We were made to love. But we do not see that we were made to respect and submit. Isn't our love enough!? How dare anyone ask us to be less than them when we love them with all we have. God knew this would be our struggle, so He felt it necessary to tell us through His Word that we must respect our husbands and submit to them. He knows He didn't need to tell us to love - that would come easily. That would be comfortable.

And the same goes for men. God did not say, husbands, respect your wives. A good many men respect women. Now, in this day and age it is not uncommon to find your occasional wife-beater (not the tank top) or woman-user; but that also goes for women. Not all women love with an undying love. There are always exceptions. But nonetheless, it is easier for men to respect women that it is for them to show their love. A good many men think of showing love as not watching football all day. And yes, that is an act of love and it is so great that guys go out of their way to do things for women - but that is not how women see it. That is more respect than love. More of a sense of duty than want. So in God's Word He told men to love their wives. Not that it's hard for men to love - but they've been told so much to hide their emotions, I believe God wanted to remind them to show their love, live in their love, and love as HE loves.

This was just astounding to me. Not that it's easy for men to respect and women to love. Not that it's hard for men to love and hard for women to submit. But that God knew what we would all struggle with. He knew this would be a difficult area for both husbands and wives, and He made sure to remind us through scripture of what we should be doing. I love that. I love that He cares for us so much as to put something that seems that small in the Bible. Something so small causes so many quarrels. So many men forget to love, so their wives grow cold and they lose them. So many women want to rule the relationship, that they tick the men off and show them that they are inferior. God knew that. He KNEW that was going to happen. And He loves us so much that He wants to make sure we do our best to shine His light. He's constantly watching out of us, and that is so beautiful to me.