The Value of Honor in the Family

Hey everyone! We’re back. I know it has been quite a while since the last post, but now that we’re back in the groove of our homework routine, we’re finally able to add blogging back into the mix. Thanks for your patience! This is going to be updated on a monthly basis, and we hope you are able to take a moment to find out what’s happening!

This month, I wanted to share some interesting things we have been encouraged to implement in our family for one of our classes. We are taking Marriage & Family with Bill Stewart, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. The idea of this class is to prepare us for the very likely event in which we are asked to do marriage counseling. It has already been a priceless thing for David and me in our own marriage, and we’re only half-way through the quarter, so we’re excited to say the least.

One point that we found to be a very valuable piece of information is regarding how we are meant to treat our mates and children. It comes from Paul’s words in Romans 12:10. In a list of ways to show a Christ-like attitude, he says, “Give give preference to one another in honor.” The RSV translates this “out-do one another” in giving honor. Imagine what a difference could be made in even the most strained relationship if one or both parties made a conscious effort to be in awe of the other person and treat them like a treasure – to out-do each other in showing them honor. We are learning that the kind of honor we are to have toward others, especially our mates, is the kind of response we have when we learn that a seemingly worthless item is actually valued at an enormous price. When we do not appraise something very highly, then find out it is valued at a high-dollar amount and why, we gasp! Imagine walking through trinkets at an antique store or second-hand shop and coming across something of immense value. What dignitary had given this item as a gift to his wife in the 18th century? Who received that from George Washington? Wow, this thing over here must be worth a fortune. You can almost hear the low whistles… you suddenly begin holding things with gentle hands for fear of damaging them.

Now picture your spouse and your kids. Each one of them deserves this kind of honor from you. The art of attaching high value becomes easy when we take time to identify what is special and unique about people. Why are they important to you? Do they know this? David and I have spent hours in the last few weeks relating to each other through notes and conversation the things we find priceless in each other. It’s a wonderful way to reaffirm each other, to get out of ruts in our relationship and make things better than ever.

For us, only coming up on our second anniversary, this really is an easy thing to do. It’s still natural to be in shock and awe that we get to live with this amazing person God has blessed us with. But should the time come in which the stars in our eyes start to fade, we know that God has called us to love with His kind of love – the kind that acts first and feels later. We may not feel like showing honor sometimes, and possibly for legitimate reasons, but Paul’s words in Romans 12:10 were not a suggestion. If we wait to show honor until we feel our mate has earned it, we will never fulfill this command. We have to act on it – and watch the transformation as our mates become the treasure that you’re showing them they are. May our God bless your families and your efforts to serve Him!