FAMILY CORNER

The Importance of Security

“What does security really mean to your wife? Would it be material security? Financial security? The answer to these questions from a man’s point of view would be “yes” to both. In a survey made last year 7 out of 10 women responded that emotional security was the most important. Men generally view security materialistically, and so they believe erroneously that this is also true of their wives. One has well said, “Men are just wired differently from women,” or to quote a popular book a few years back, “Women are from Venus ~ Men are from Mars! Men need to be re-programmed in order to understand how important emotional security is to his wife.

What exactly does emotional security entail? There are many aspects to this desired security women desire. Wives want to know that they are loved and have first priority (with the exception of God) in the lives of their husbands. Love finds expression in many ways, needing verbal affirmation often as well as showing a high respect for her thoughts and opinions. Love expresses itself in providing prime time to talk and share things together. It should reveal itself often in a gentle hug or warm caress. I am sure that you can think of many other ways in which love can find expression. If you can, I hope that this will be something that you do often, as well.

For those of us who are men it is quite easy to quantify income and possessions, rather than loving attention which seems more obscure and vague for us to get a handle on. A husband, often sees working long hours as a sacrifice of love; and he has no doubt that his wife and children understands and appreciate it. However, most often, this is not the case, nor would it be the choice of his wife. Family time is much more important on her priority list, and the same applies for the children. Family interaction is a foundation stone in establishing solid emotional security. What this boils down to is saying most wives think you are worth more than your earning potential.

Men, let’s love our wives and families in such a way that it would

compare, in some degree, to the love Jesus had for His church, His bride, by prioritizing and filling their need of emotional security.

E. Weeks