Fathers Loving Mothers

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church. (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29) 
 
When Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, he was giving them clear instructions on how wives should treat their husbands and how husbands should treat their wives. While we typically talk about this passage when we are discussing marriage, it is important that we consider  how this passage applies to parenting.  
 
Whether you realize it or not, your children pay attention to how their father treats their mother. They are constantly watching to see how he loves her, how he shows her respect, how he speaks to her, and how he talks about her to other people. They are keenly aware of the way their father treats and relates to their mother.  
 
Consequently, as fathers, we should be doing everything in our power to set a strong, godly example of loving the mother of our children. We have the chance to be a model for how their mother should be treated. If we want our children to treat their mother with love, kindness, and respect; we must do the same.  
 
Let’s not take this responsibility lightly, as we set an example for loving and respecting our wives. Let’s treat our wives in a way that our children will one day be able to say, “I have no doubt that my dad really loved my mom.”