Submission

I have so many wonderful things to share, but will only choose just one for now.

It all began with the sermon on Confessing and Following Christ (http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=33008208227). Throughout the message Pastor Olivetti discussed the very topic of selflessness. Needless to say this has been a hot topic around our home for a couple of reasons, which I will gladly discuss in another post on another day.
I never want to miss an opportunity to share about my husband, Eric. I'd like to preface this by saying, HE IS NOT PERFECT, and I'm NOT proclaiming him to be. Having said that I will say he excels in the area of selflessness. He is constantly forgoing his own pursuits of happiness for the betterment of our family, and some days just for the simply things that make me happy. This is not to say that he lives miserably. Far from it. :-)

I met with a friend recently who said this, "You always put him on a pedestal." Her words have been on my mind and I cannot seem to shake them. So.....

I began to explore just what a pedestal is:
—Noun

1.	an architectural support for a column, statue, vase, or the like.

2.	a supporting structure or piece; base.

—Idiom

1. set or put on a pedestal, to glorify; idealize.

In thinking more on this He revealed many things to me. In reflecting back on the words of my friend, I found myself placing him on a pedestal more often than I realized. Eric is the leader and supporting structure of our family. If you think in terms of a building, God is the structure in which our family is build on and under. Eric is our column that upholds the structure. Let me clarify, Eric is not supporting God, in the sense that God needs to be held up. Eric supports His ways, plans, instruction and will for our family by bearing the weight. Without a good support system the building would crash. There is a reason Eric is the man and leader of our home and I am the wife, not the head.
I also realize that I need to be careful not to put Eric in a position of idolatry. The only reason Eric is who he is, is because of his Heavenly Father. I need to make it clear to those I talk to it is He that has made us and now we ourselves.

It is a wonder what God has done in Eric's life and the man He has made Eric to be. I truly marvel at God's plan and His way to execute without fail. When I describe our marriage the best word I've found is fascination. He fascinates me because Eric is an outstanding example of God's grace, in the flesh. The Lord brought him out of a pit and restored him to be a proclamation of not only His grace, but His power over this world. Hallelujah, I say.

I realized that I should put him on a pedestal. God chose this man for me to follow, is molding him daily, helping him to mold me daily and allowing us to glorify Him while here on earth.

Submission, for me, becomes as easy as waking up in the morning. In the beginning of our marriage, I packed up and followed Eric to Indiana. Through the years I resented him for it. I've had to asked for forgiveness on more than one occasion for this. I've also realized that it wasn't just me fighting Eric, but me fighting God's will for my life.
As stubborn (strong-willed) as I was and sometimes still am, God had to pick someone truly amazing for me to follow. Not only that, but God has given me such a deep love and respect for Eric that I don't have trouble following him. That doesn't mean that I don't have opinions, nor do I have trouble expressing them. However, true submission can only be taught by Christ through His relationship to our Father, and then for me to mimic through my marriage to Eric.

I shared of making Eric a top priority. I have met my three challenges better on some days and have fallen short on others. There is ALWAYS room for improvement. :-)
Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go improve by giving my man the longest back-scratch he's ever had! Did I mention he reminds me of an old bear?! :-) HAHAHAHAHAHA!