I keep at least four books open on my desk and try to read from each of them at least once a day. Sometimes I will just skim, occasionally look up a point in question and now and then touch them to make sure they're still where I left them. Today, I have picked up the seventh edition of "Western Civilization" and a brief section about Medieval Society, sub section Noblewomen, to check out some stuff I want to share with my classes. You pick your stuff and I will pick mine. Okay? Okay.
       "Class, Feudal society was a man's world since it was believed that women were thought to be physically, morally and intellectually inferior to men. Fathers arranged marriages and wives were at the mercy of their husbands and were regularly beaten. French law declared that as long as the husband did not kill or maim his wife, the law was on his side. Even the church taught that women were agents of the devil and used their sexuality to lure men into sin and approved wife beating."  More than one young lady commented that it is a good thing that she lives in the 21st century. This gives me the opportunity to share with the class. By the way, guys, several said that if their husbands even lifted a hand in their direction, they would be dead before they could blink and justifiable or not, that's the way it would be. Period.
       I will never forget the time when a young lady told me in confidence that her husband was physically abusive. Since I am a non-directive counselor, I am a pretty good listener and allow folks to come to their own conclusions and act accordingly. Anyway, she eventually divorced and married a young man who absolutely adored her and worshipped the ground on which she walked. Sometime later, she asked if she could see me and began to tell me that she divorced her second husband and remarried her first. After I smacked my head a couple of times to make certain I was hearing clearly, I asked, "Why?"
       "Well, I know that I am undisciplined and do things which I shouldn't. My first husband used to hit me when I needed it to straighten me out. My second husband obviously didn't love me when I was going off in the wrong direction because he never beat me. I went back to the man who loves me enough to keep me in line."
       I guess history never truly changes.
       I know there is considerable controversy on this issue as both men and women agree and disagree as to the meaning and depth of the roles of man and woman, husband and wife, and you can add more if you so choose. Whether or not some adhere to what has been termed as misogynistic ideas concerning women or even biblical support from the Pastoral Epistles such as 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus, I support the position that when Adam saw Eve he said, "You are the one who completes me!"
       If you have found your soul mate and the one who completes you — and this refers to wife as well as husband — then you have been richly blessed.
       The rest of your life as husband and wife can be the love story of the century. Thanks, God. Our story will be a blockbuster!