Respect and Honor

Respect and Honor: A lesson for my daughter

These lessons I'll teach you
hardly saying a word.
Respect and honor are gifts,
a good husband must earn.

Do not rush up to greet him
like some puppy forlorn.
He was merely working, as he must,
to support his family of four.

Watch closely and remember
my daughter you must learn;
Respect and honor are gifts,
a good husband must earn.

Reward his household help
with rework and frustration.
We must teach him the way
before showing ‘preciation.

Pining for new cars, jewelry,
and a bigger house.
Will surely push him to provide
or be considered a louse.

Follow up repeating questions
about bonus and promotion.
Sole provider, so lacking,
we assure his interpretation.

If he valued his family
he wouldn't work to all hours.
A contradiction it may be
but the expectations are ours.

It's hard work training a husband;
soon it will be your turn.
Respect and honor are gifts
a good husband must earn.

Go out with your friends
and stay out for all hours.
Mock his concerns. Keep control;
it's your power.

Don't arrive when you promise.
Don't call to explain.
To do so would cede
your autonomy.

Make sure he is reminded,
how disappointed we are.
Have family fun with someone else
in the place of their father.

Now ignore his attempts
to work on the marriage.
To do so you’d have to see
at what hurt you've managed.

Put it squarely on him
where this marriage is at.
Let him wait on forgiveness
to enter your scorned heart.

His spirit may be crushed
under the unbearable wait.
To earn what should be unconditional.
By God's word; but it’s too late.

Again I will remind you,
until you have heard.
Respect and honor are gifts,
a good husband must earn.