MAMA'S NIGHTGOWN

A long time ago, I decided to address the topic of sex in the church by teaching classes, and Milton did, too, through our marriage conferences in many churches and in our church. I decided if people can read—and talk about—sex all over the place, why not in the church (in appropriate times and settings)?

Remember when Everybody Loves Raymond first came on TV? I got a lot of laughs. The quirky characters cracked me up. But from the start, I saw something I didn't like: Ray's wife puts him down, is disrespectful, and withholds sex from him.

Obviously, she hasn't read…

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (RSV): "Because of the temptation of immortality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise, the wife to her own husband. For the wife does not rule over her body, but the husband; likewise the husband does not rule over his body, but the wife does. Do not refuse one another."

Enjoy the following:

"Mama's Nightgown"

This morning, Mama's
smiling and humming
and her nightgown's inside out.
The boys are noisy,
the dog's barking,
she doesn't even shout.
And Papa?
he's laughing and dancing
through the house,
'cause Mama's nightgown
is inside out.

If you won't meet your husband's sexual needs, who will? You are God's gift to him.

***

Having taught on this subject and having counseled many people, I am aware there are some deep problems in marriage. I encourage you to work through your problems in this arena. Get help. Seek a wise counselor. Read marriage books. Attend marriage conferences. You go to extra effort for lots of things in your life, such as hobbies, your job, your children, etc. Go to extra effort for your marriage. It's worth it.

***

Milton and I watched the sunrise over the ocean, and I snapped this "double sunrise" shot. The sunrise was reflecting in the surf.