“One of my neighbors stopped by last night,” Stan began, “and he was real upset over what I think is a molehill.”
“What do you mean?” I replied.
“In my view,” Stan replied, “it seems that he has mixed up the notions of being respected and being agreed with, and he is making a mountain out of it.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Well, apparently,” Stan responded, “he thinks that if his son doesn’t agree with everything he says, his son is being disrespectful.”
“Were you able to talk with him about that?”
“We talked,” Stan replied, “and I gave him my perspective, but I’m not sure anything was settled.”
Continuing, he said, “Without giving my neighbor any specifics, I told him that I had viewed the same sort of situation with a friend and his wife. That friend had the notion that if his wife did not agree with everything he said, she was being disrespectful.”
“Was that resolved?” I asked.
“Yes, I am pleased to say,” Stan replied. “Through prayer, Biblical counseling, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, my friend was shown that he and his wife could have an honest disagreement about something without it having to be viewed as a question of respect and disrespect.”
“Did that all work out for them?” I asked.
“It did,” Stan replied, “with the very happy result that their level of communication has deepened dramatically so that they are able to have discussions rather than arguments.”
“With my neighbor and the situation with his son,” Stan concluded, “I told him I was available to help however I could. I also told him that I would be praying for him and his son. And I will.”
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Honor your father and your mother. Exodus 20:12.
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart. Colossians 3:21.
Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that I can bring all things before you, everything that has me concerned. I need and I ask for all of the help you can provide in showing me your perspective about everything in my life, including the questions of love and respect. Please, Lord, lead me and help me to follow exactly as you want so that I am only who you intend in all of my relationships. Help me to not confuse what I want with what you want. Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 