Reply #50: but the point is, if the man is in submission to Christ

[ProdigalJunkMail]

then the woman is as well...she is not submitting to the will of (a) man but to the will of God. That is me is the whole point. I also believe that one person has to be the final say. What happens if you disagree? You want one thing and your partner the other? Do you just do neither?

Also, the interpretation of the submission doctrine does not mean that EVERY decision is up to the man of the house (at least I don't read it that way). My wife makes almost all the decisions about the house. She is wonderfully organized and dedicated to a smoothly running house (we have three little girls so this is a challenge that I am not built for). I make the decisions about the cars (we have two vehicles and my wife has no aptitude for machinery). We discuss our finances and what needs to be done. And, because of my submission (which I struggle with daily), I put their financial wants and needs ahead of my selfish desires (I could sure use that 73" TV for the mancave).

I think the part that is commonly misinterpreted or just plain missed is that part that we have to acknowledge each others gifts and utilize them properly. We are a team...a family...a unit. She has skills that I do not have and I don't think I can develop them. In order for me to be the husband I am to be, I have to know that there are some things she will be better at and some things I will be better at...and to know, that making the best of that is making the best FOR our family.

Lastly, I don't think submission works for everyone. There are times when it doesn't work 100% for us...and the bulk of that time is when I am the one out of whack in the relationship.

sP