For me respecting my wife means listening when she speaks with my full attention, even if I could “multi-task” or simultaneously think of what I want to say. That’s a tough one, believe me. – I struggle regularly with that.
It means accepting and believing that what she wants is as important as what I want.
It means that I don’t micromanage what she does with our money.
It means she does not need to ask my consent to make decisions about what her heart tells her she wants to do. I back up her choices and support them because I trust her judgment.
It means not interrupting her or finishing her sentences even though I know her well enough to do so.
It means loving her even when she has her irrational moments and says things she’ll later tell me herself made no sense.
It means hearing her problems or concerns and not try and solve the problem or fix things when she just wants to be heard. – Oh how I struggle with that!
” her
It means not stepping in to help when she is working on things without her asking or without her consent when I ask if there is anything I can do to help.
It means discussing things with her before I make any major decisions just as she does.
It means loving and accepting her as she is and not trying to change or “improve” her.
It means never losing sight of all the ways she is beautiful, even when she can’t or won’t acknowledge them.
It means keeping things she shares with me in confidence, even if I do not understand why they have to be kept between us alone.