THE GIFT OF RESPECT ON FATHER’S DAY

Erin Smalley

Deuteronomy 5:16

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lordyour God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Intentional Respect

• Being intentional about respect is to focus on ways a wife can respect her husband.
• It includes the vertical expectation where a wife calls on God in heaven to help her find new ways and the strength to respect him.

Practical Respect

• The Oxford dictionary defines respect as: “A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievement.
• keep a list of character qualities, abilities and achievement
• Every day be on the lookout for one thing in your husband’s behavior for which you can praise him
• If you look for praiseworthy behavior, you will find it
• (This is huge) Offer your husband words of encouragement and affirmation — maybe even at the dinner table in front of your children. Consider inviting your children to share as well.
• Always talk positively about your husband. Tell them how much you appreciate their dad.
• When you blow it by speaking to your husband in dishonoring ways, simply “clean it up.” Acknowledge that you were wrong and ask your husband to forgive you.
• Respect is unconditional

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.