MEN DON'T READ

Well, it is obvious from the feed back I got from my women readers regarding my last post that Men don't read! Why do I say that, because apparently more than one man pointed out my "learned" expertise to their wives as to why they didn't get flowers or candy.

I apologize to my women readers for the miscommunication with their husbands. But as I said, they obviously didn't read my post, only the title... Let me point out a couple of things recorded in that post that some men didn't read.

Question: Why didn't I give my wife roses for Valentine's Day?

Answer: Because I gave her favorite flowers to her a few days before, which were 3 dozen Carnations. I also mentioned that I buy her flowers on a regular basis, not just on holidays.

Question: Why didn't I give my wife a box of candy for Valentine's Day?

Answer: Because she prefers Hershey's chocolate bars with almonds so I gave her several of those.

Question: How did I know that doing those things would please her?

Answer: Because I listened when she mentioned those things through the years!

So, guys, if you read this…. And you didn't buy flowers or candy for your wife, go out immediately and buy either or both and give them to her. You may not understand why it is important to her, but it is, OK… Just take my word for it!

I DIDN'T GIVE MY WIFE FLOWERS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY (or a box of candy either).

I DIDN'T GIVE MY WIFE FLOWERS FOR VALENTINES DAY (or a box of candy either).

By Russ Lawson

I know that the heading above may bring a negative response from some, (especially wives who didn't get flowers for Valentines Day either). However hear me out (and yes, this is directed mainly to my fellow men).

Now, do you want to know why I didn't get her flowers for this special day? You see, being a minister I deal a great deal with death. I have seen countless husbands mourn their wives who have died. I have heard them say all the things good husbands do about how they should have treated her better and if only they had it to do over it would be different.

 My wife and I have been married for right at 46 years and I have always tried to do special things for her. However about 20 years ago I decided I didn't want to be one of those guys who said, "I wish I had." So, when I have been able to afford it, which is quite often I bring home flowers. The last few years we have been in a situation that allows me to buy flowers for her just about every week. So, I didn't buy flowers for Valentines Day, I didn't need to, I brought home 3 dozen carnations a few days before. I also, rarely buy roses. Why, because I know she prefers carnations.

I also didn't buy a box of candy (heart shaped or otherwise). Why, because I know that she doesn't care for most of the candy that you get in a box. She much prefers Hershey's chocolate bars with almonds or M&M's peanut. How do I know? Because at one time or another she has told me these things and I actually listened.

Now for you wives who might be reading this, I hope you notice that my wife actually told me what she liked at some point in our relationship. Please don't fall back on the old, "he should have known" saying. Because most of us guys, just aren’t that perceptive. Tell us what you like and we will do a much better job of getting it right.

So what did I do for the love of my life for Valentines Day? I made our bed for her, gave her a card and a Hershey's bar, took her out to Starbucks and then later to a movie. We actually prefer to eat at home most of the time, so nothing fancy there. She did make me a special breakfast, gave me a hand crafted card telling me how much she loved me and we sat and held each other's hands for awhile. Oh, and I made sure I told her how much I loved her and how great she looked, because she wore my favorite earrings and took special pains to look good, just to spend some time for me!

You see, love is not $45 roses or $65 candy, it is caring enough to do special things, things that may not cost anything.

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself."

BEAM ME UP

Most of us have heard the phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty" at one time or another, but do you know who said that phrase in the old Star Trek TV series? This phrase is famous isn't it; we see it everywhere from bumper stickers to posters.

Most of us have heard that some famous phrases may not be just as we have heard them or thought they were, or even said by the people we thought said them. Such as the phrase, "Play it again, Sam," which was never really uttered in the movie Casablanca?

OK, who said, "Beam me up Scotty" in the series? You may have guessed that it was Captain Kirk, (William Shatner), but the reality is that he never said this exact phrase. In fact the answer is that no one in the series ever said that exact phrase. The closest Captain Kirk ever got to saying it was on the cartoon version of the series. On the original TV series the closest that the Captain ever got was "Beam US up, Scotty".

How many things in our memory do we accept as being true which we really have no real idea where they came from? For example, which of these following statements come from the Bible?

1.      A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

2.      Beggars can't be choosers.

3.      Charity begins at home.

4.      Cleanliness is next to godliness.

5.      Everything that glitters is not gold.

6.      God helps those who help themselves.

7.      Honesty is the best policy.

Well, in principle most of the thoughts can be found in the bible, but those phrases all come from men's writings. Yet, if I had asked you personally, what would you have said. Would you have in all honesty thought that at least one or two were found in the Bible?

That's OK; none of us can know everything in the Bible, can we? But what is enough? When do we know enough, when have we grown enough in knowledge and understanding. Peter urges his readers in 2 Peter 3:18 to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

My earnest prayer for you is that you will continue to read, study, and come to a greater understanding of Christ and his purpose for you. Read you Bible daily, search the word, and know God better.