My wife, Debbie, and I are avid ballroom dancers.

In ballroom dancing, the man always leads and the woman always follows. But the man’s leading is not pulling/pushing the woman around the dance floor - instead it’s gently suggesting what she should be doing. It’s up to her to follow and the man never forces her against her will. The more skillful a dancer the man is, the more gentle and precise his leading will be. It is only a man that does not know how to dance that tries (unsucessfully) to push/pull his partner around the floor.

Also - the dance is about her - not him. He is the frame and she is the picture. His job is to focus on her and ensure she’s in the spotlight during the dance. He serves her during the dance.

This is a wonderful example of the Biblical teaching on the husband’s relationship with his wife. Ephesians 4:25 commands, “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”

If we go through life trying to lead by pushing and pulling our wives around, the both of us only end up tired, frustrated, cranky and unfulfilled. But if we understand how to serve our wives sacrificially and lead gently …. not only will the dance (i.e., the marriage) be spectacular, but it will be far more fullfilling that you can possibly imagine!

God help me to be a sacrificial, gentle leader to my wife,

Bob
fides quaerens intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)