Do As I Say, Not As I Do.

Ephesians 5:33. There's a book written on this verse, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Love And Respect. An entire book. The wife must respect her husband. I am a huge fan of this book, and have recommended it to many friends, family members, and strangers. I have been to the video series, I have done the small group study, and I love, love, love this book.

For whatever reason, however, I have a hard time always following through. The wife must respect her husband.

Before I continue with my story, read the following instant message conversation. To give you a little bit of background, my boss has been playing up the office to buy him something big and expensive for his birthday, which is October 22nd. This conversation between the two of us took place one Friday, when he was "working from home".

Mathew [10:15 AM]:
good morning
have you gotten my birthday gift yet?

Val [10:15 AM]:
I have a week and a half yet.
Greedy Pants.

Val [10:17 AM]:
You, on the other hand, have about until Monday morning to get mine.

Mathew [10:18 AM]:
what do you want?

Val [10:18 AM]:
Um......a company car....?

Mathew [10:19 AM]:
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaahahahhaahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha

ok, I am good now

Val [10:19 AM]:
LOL

Mathew [10:23 AM]:
i will do my best

Val [10:24 AM]:
k. I appreciate it.


So Monday morning, he (my boss) asked how my birthday was (on Sunday) and I told him it was nice, I enjoyed myself at the retreat, blahblahblah. Then I asked, "Where's my company car?" He answered, "The dealership still has it, but I'm going to pick it up after lunch." Oh....okay.....whatever.

He came in after lunch and launched in to this whole long schpiel about how he had to save the company money so he got an "experimental" model of vehicle that's not on the market yet. He whipped this toy car out of his pocket and told me it would grow in rain, so I can only drive it on rainy days, otherwise I won't fit, etc. Haha, we all do the cheesy laugh thing, and I had to take the car away because all the guys in the office wanted to make it roll on my desk over and over and over and over again. (Must be a guy thing.)




Brent called me while I was still at work and I decided to tell him about Matt's funny joke. "Hey Brent, I got a company car."
"What?"
"I got a company car."
"Wait. I need to understand. How?"
"I just asked for one, and Matt brought it to me this afternoon. He asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I told him I wanted a company car, and now I have one."
"Omigosh! You don't sound as excited as you should be."
(Note....at this point, I thought I would see how far I could ride with Brent's unsuspecting enthusiasm over my "company car")
"Well I'm still at my desk, and it's not like I can just freak out at work."
"So you can just keep it forever, or until you leave the company?"
"Yeah, I can keep it as long as I want."
"So will I get to see it tonight?"
"Yes, I'm taking it home with me."
"This is so cool!"
"I know! Okay I have to go, I love you, bye."
"I love you too! Bye."

After hanging up, I said out loud, "Wow, he really needs to ask more questions." He bought it! He is usually very skeptical of me anyway, but when it came to this, he didn't ask me a single detail! I took a little file folder label and I trimmed it down to size and make a company logo for the car door.

Brent was confused as to why I drove my regular car to my chiropractor appointment after work. He had to meet me there as the chiropractor was giving a new patient orientation, complete with free sandwiches for patients and their significant other. I pulled the company car out of my purse. I smiled. A great big smile. I opened the door and instructed him to "check out the interior on this baby." Brent wasn't smiling. At all. In fact, I thought he was going to crush my skull.



I was immediately humbled when he told me under his breath, in the lobby of the chiropractor's office, "It would've been nice to know you were joking before I offered to sell my car to a guy at work."

I feel bad that I broke my husband's heart and got his hopes up and all that schmooz, but seriously?! I mean, really?!

The wife must respect her husband. I'm sorry, honey. I do respect you and I do admire and appreciate you. Even if my company car is only three inches long and one inch tall.

Wives....respect your husbands. Do as I say, not as I did.....

Oooooh, the new car smell......