Needing Attention

Last night, my husband expressed some disappointment with me. He just wanted me to sit next to him on the couch for a little while, but I kept busy with other tasks that I wanted and felt like I needed to get done. I got defensive about his wanting attention and my being too busy because I was getting things done and the only way I can figure out not to be so busy is to drop some of my commitments, which I'm not sure I want to do in some cases, or realistically can in others. I want to go to Bible studies and help with the Homebound ministry. He encourages these activities. I need to be active and doing different things with and for the kids. Not everything, I know, but kids do take a lot of time, energy, etc. If I'm outside playing with them, preparing for a birthday party, craft, or science experiment, etc., it takes time. My husband said he did not intend for me to drop all my activities - he just wanted some time with me. I apologized too and told him he had just entered my own personal battle and welcome.

Anyhow, enough of my gripe and justification and back to the point of this post.

I was thinking about this and the thought came to me, "He's being just like God our Heavenly Father and like Jesus to the church!" Wow, that's exactly what I want and what God wants! Then I started thinking further about what that meant.

My husband was just asking for me to be still for a little while and spend some time in relationship with him. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  God, our Father, wants us to stop the busyness sometimes and be still. Just 'be' for a little while. Spend time in conversation with Him, not just talking as in a monologue, but by listening and allowing it to become a two-way conversation. Just be close to Him for a while and recognize who He is and how much He loves us.

Ephesians 5:22-27 says "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any ore blemish, but holy and blameless." My husband really does love me greatly. Those of you who know him personally can see this. I need to show more respect to him - as the head of our marriage and family. I try, but need to continue to improve.

I am also reminded of some of God's messages about needing rest, about taking a break. These passages mostly refer to keeping a Sabbath day, which I'm not good at, but I can take steps in the right direction. Some of the passages I'm thinking about are Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11.

So, here's what is needing attention in my life: I need to find the opportunities and make myself stop the busyness, be still, and spend time. I've gotten better at making time with God, but it needs to be mirrored in my relationship with my husband, too. He needs (and deserves) my attention. He is seeking it. Looks like I've got some work to do.