Lots of good comments here!
When I got married back in '96 (y'all my FIVE year wedding anniversary is in one week!! YAH!), I was adamant about not having
obey in my vows. I am very stubborn and had the "how you gone tell me what to do? I'm grown!" attitude. LOL Anyway, as I grow and learn, I understand more of God's command in this area and if I were getting married today, I would say something like "I vow to
submit to you as Christ submitted to His Heavenly Father" and I know he would not have a problem saying something like "I vow to love you as Christ loved the Church". I DO see my husband as the head of the household and see one of my most important jobs as praying for him. I pray that God gives him discerment and Godly wisdom and the He orders his (my husband's) steps on a daily basis. Now I personally think that a man's responsibility in a Godly household is tougher that the woman's. He has to, as I think tickled pink mentioned, literally lay down his life for me! I once heard a minister say that he can't let his wife out serve him, because then he would not be the priest of his household! Jesus came as one who serves (see Luke 22:26-27) and the man should follow Jesus' model in serving his wife. Uh huh, that's what I'm talking about!
Since my husband knows that I am opinionated and am, if I say so myself, intelligent, he wants me to be included in the decision making process. If he is being lead by God, willing to lay down his life for me, and trying to outserve me, I am not worried about obeying/submitting, etc. I'm just trying to praise God for him!!
Of course neither one of us gets it right all of the time (or heck even most of the time, but I figure by about anniversary number 25 we should be real close!
), but that's where grace and mercy comes in.
[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited April 20, 2001).]
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