LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE GARBAGE MAN

by Tammy Phillips
May 4, 2021

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. … And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:18, 23 KJV)

My husband ask me at least twice in one day before we left our beach cottage, “when do we need to put the garbage to the curb?” If I had “submitted” to his question,  my mother and I would not have had to run out the door, across the front porch and wave down the garbage men.  “Submit” in Colossians 3:18 is not a bad word.   It is the Greek word, hypotassō, meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader.” In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of cooperating, giving in, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.”  Kris and I have almost been married twenty-eight years.  I know he is wise, maybe just maybe, I will cooperate with his wisdom when he questions me and I will not have to chase down the next garbage man, mail man, or anyone else.

The Waste Management man was so gracious and kind.  He thought nothing of two old women chasing him down in their gowns.  He apologized for not seeing us in the darkness of the early morning.  It was 5:30 AM on a Monday morning and pitch-black outside.  I expressed my gratitude for him taking pause and not driving away.  I told him that I should have listened to my husband.   He laughed and happily said  that it was his job, and he would take anything but my husband.  I was brought to tears by his sincere  kindness and willingness to help us.  Then and there,  I thanked God for the  young man.  I prayed for Lord to honor his great attitude and that the  he would receive favor and promotion.

I enCOURAGE you to submit to your spouse and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.    Twenty-eight years and I am still learning to submit to Kris.  I have been with the Lord longer than that and I still  have to be reminded that ever action, reaction, all I say and  do need to be done for the glory of the Lord. 

P.S.  Thank you, Kris for the loving, gentle, admonition on the beach.  I heard you and will make every effort to really practice what I preach.