Colossians: Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
That was one of my dad's favorite readings, read (if I'm not mistaken) at the Holy Family Mass just after the new year. I can still recall how he'd nudge the child next to him when it mentioned children obeying their parents.
Both he and my mom were examples of the love described in Colossians. Mom supported Dad in everything and Dad loved her. Through that cycle of Mom supporting and building up Dad and Dad honoring and loving Mom, they created what appeared to be a relatively easy marriage. One that wheeled along and found the easier path, together.
I'm sure there were bumps, but they made it look so easy. Maybe it's as simple as reading and obeying the powerfully simple verses set out in Colossians.
I know I got hung up on the "Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord," from yesterday's readings. I guess now I look at it as honoring your husband by lifting him up and bolstering his confidence. The more the wife does that (and not the nagging part), the better the husband feels about himself, the more he loves and honors his wife.
That could be a pie-in-the-sky thought process, but I do believe that if two people truly love one another, "...as is fitting to the Lord," then loving and honoring one another on a God/Spirit level, then the earth level is made so much easier. When you know that you have a partner for the long haul, that you can depend on the other to share your thought, beliefs, fears without being torn down or made fun of, then the earthly experience goes more smoothly. Of that, I am certain.
March 19
Mark: and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;
Luke: But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,
John: And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
Acts: Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Romans: Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
1 Corinthians: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Galatians: Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.
Ephesians: and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Philippians: Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.
Colossians: Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
Hebrews: So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
1 Peter: in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
1 John: And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
Revelation: I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.