Kids, You’d Better Respect My Wife!
Recently, we were blessed to hear brother John DeBerry preach in a Gospel Meeting. In one of those lessons, he talked about the family and spent a great deal of time talking about the need for children to respect their parents.
He recounted a story about a time when he, as a young boy, did not show respect to his mother. His dad came in and quickly reminded him that he was not just disrespecting his mother, but “my woman!”
On a few occasions, I have done the same thing with my children. When I have felt they were getting just a little too big for their britches, I changed from saying things like, “Show your mother some respect,” to “you had better respect my wife.”
The reason is simple: I want them to see that, as much as I love them, I love my wife more and no one–not even my kids–will get away with treating her in a disrespectful way.
I also want them to see that I am the protector, not just of my kids, but of my wife. And that means more than just physical protection. It also means that I protect her place of respect in our home. I protect her reputation and her influence when I remind my children that she is my wife.
And, of course, reminding them that she is my wife also instills a reminder in them that she was my wife before they ever came along. Our relationship has a longer history, so I plan to protect that relationship to make sure it lasts for a lifetime. Not even my kids should be allowed to chip away at the strength of that lifetime covenant I have with my wife.
I love my children so much, but, as growing kids do, they will push boundaries at times. Yours will–and do–as well. One boundary I pray I never let them cross is “sassing their momma,” because when they do, they are sassing my wife…and I won’t stand for that!
Men, it’s time none of us stood for that in our homes. It’s time we reminded our kids that their mother is also our wife…and we are going to be on her side, protecting her and protecting our marriage with everything we have.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
