learning respect... part 5...

The C... it came slowly... difficult to hear...

For me... in waiting for a teaching to continue...

R... revere...
E... engage...
S... stand at the crossroads and look...
P... pure...
E... earnest...
C
T

... is the temptation to rush... to go ahead... to figure it out on my own... doubts rising... the end so close... Will He continue to teach...?

I asked... for more revelation... but... then it's like I tried to guess what will be next... impatient... "c" words... tumbled through my brain... I don't want my word... but Yours...

Then it came... quietly...

Choice...

Respect... is a choice... once we stand and consider the outcome of our behavior... respect vs disrespect... we must choose...

Yesterday... I made a choice... a portion of the definition of respect... came to mind...

...to refrain from interfering with...

As my husband did a job... for me... just... for... me... on Saturday morning... my spirit... was continually reminded... 

...do not interfere...

Now understand... this was a job I wanted done... a change that I physically couldn't make myself... one that took hours... and really benefited no one but me...

And it was a job... I had to let my husband do... his way... out of respect... I did not interfere...

But as I stood by and let him do... the phrase... it echoed... do not interfere...

The Spirit doesn't tell you anything unless you need to hear it... the Counselor... giving the encouragement you need...

The Spirit didn't repeatedly tell Joshua... Be strong and courageous... because he was... it was because that's what he needed to be reminded...  to be... what he did not feel... as he led God's people... into the Promised Land...

So yesterday... that is what I needed to hear... Why...? Because I wanted... to... interfere... to direct... to help... to say... I have a better way...

I realized... how disrespectful... I have been over the years... interfering... in places where he asked for no help...
telling stories...
driving from point A to point B...
various jobs around the house...

The lesson of respect... as a choice... making an impact... do not interfere...

And I was blessed... my husband... he went way beyond... what I asked... and expected... him to do...

In that choice... my respect... for my husband... magnified... enlarged... grew...

Respect... is a choice...

When divinely directed... from a pure heart... with a focus on entering a promised land... in marriage... mindful... of God's plan... and desire... the choice... to respect... is blessed...

Lord... I'm blown away... by Your teaching... Your thoughts... too wonderful... to me...