Man, I know your heart’s intention

      Is to always love your wife;

Give her strength and truth and passion

      Through your years of wedded life.

But you thought it would be easy;

      Thought she’d always love you, too;

Thought she always would be grateful

      For whatever you would do.

Now you find that she has weakness

      That you barely understand,

And to live your good intentions

      Is much harder than you planned.

Oh, remember your high calling!

      For you are a type of Christ.

He who loved the church and saved it

      Had his body sacrificed.

That He might present her spotless

      Christ has given all and died;

As the head, He loved the body;

      So the man must love his bride.

Though the church has proved unfaithful,

      Yet the Lord is faithful still;

Faithful likewise is the husband

      Who obeys the Father’s will.

For the wife’s the weaker vessel,

      And the man must rise above,

Leading by a wise example,

      And the sacrifice of love.

March 22, 2010