Cheryl Schatz

gengwall,
You said:

If “desire” is the antithesis of “rule” instead of a parallel detrimental action, the verse is horribly unbalanced against men.

I’m sure you will understand that I, as a man, have a very difficult time accepting such a conclusion. I don’t believe men are more capable or inclined than women of bringing strife into marriage even though they have more often been guilty of it throughout history. And I certainly don’t believe that men are the only gender that brings strife, with women being the only gender that suffers from it.

Men are certainly not the only gender that brings strife into the marriage. But in the Christian community I do believe that if men followed God’s command to love their wives, and they truly sacrificed for them, most marriages would not only survive but flourish. Most women desire to be loved this way and when their needs are met they are happy and contented to meet his needs. For some reason we think that women should be the ones to sacrifice first, but I believe that the best balance comes when the husband takes the place of one who loves and serves. It just isn’t easy for a man to do this even though in his head he knows that he has been called to love her this way.