15.12.2023 - FRIDAY. Day 70 @ SWORDS OF IRON WAR.

It is still Chanukah according to my calendar, and tomorrow it is Shabbat Chanukah. I never noticed it before. So that's new for me. I noticed it after I lit the Sabbath candles and after the stores closed so I did not get a sufgania (Chanukah donuts)... tears...

Shabbat Candles

Yet, we are having a peaceful Friday night. I know that the IDF is still on the borders protecting us, but for some reason, I don't hear them at all tonight.

Last night, I dreamt about my son and granddaughter. I did not dream about her for a long time, so the dream surprised me. In my dream, she was visiting us with a group of her friends. Her father came as well. The house was full of her clothes thrown on the floor in a rainbow of colours. Happy and loud voices filled up the place, and I chose not to point out the mess everywhere, after all, she does not visit that often. Then she turned toward me and told me off, “Grandpa is a wonderful guy and he deserves more respect from you and your sons”.

I woke up with question marks floating in the air.

No, I have no idea what that was about.

Later, during the day I thought about a conversation I had recently. It took a bit of time, but in my mind, I concluded that marriage has to be based on God's recommendation.

(Ephesians 5:33) Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

How did I get marriage behaviour from clothing on the floor, I have no idea. Maybe the kid is planning a wedding and has not advertised it yet. But the quoted verse is true.

It is easy for a woman to love a man. She knows what actions she interprets as love. But respect seems to escape most wives. Maybe because she mostly craves love.

It is easy for a man to show respect, but harder to show his love so she can receive it. He learned how to show respect in his daily associations with others and many men I met have said that respect is the first need they have on their lists.

If both learn to follow this verse and base their mutual relationship on God's instruction, the marriage will be stronger.

One thing is important – pick up your clothes off the floor, it will be easier to walk
inside the house.

Shabbat Shalom. Love one another.