Love and Respect

Hi

I am currently reading a book which interprets the Ephesians 5:33 passage about male / female relationship in a different way. It talks about men loving their wives and wives respecting their husbands as a response to core needs in each other rather than a command for action and submission.

Let me explain, the main idea in the book is that the one thing men need and want more than anything else is to feel respected, and the one thing women need more than anything else is to feel loved. But, these are the things that we often struggle to give.

It is when a man feels respected that he finds it easier respond in love and when a woman feels loved that she finds it easier to respond in respect. The reverse is also true, that it is harder to love and respect each other when, love and respect are absent.

That doesn't mean that we should wait for others to respond positively to us before we respond back. We each should be sure our actions are respectful and loving to each other, regardless.

I recognize this is a sweeping generalization in many senses but I wonder if in the majority of relationships there is an element of truth to the theory.

I would be interested to hear you responses.

Emma