Respect: To give or not give?

As a woman writer I am referring to the respect that we, as women, give the men in our lives; and what the men in our lives do to earn that respect. I’ve been pondering this question recently as I am a newly-wed and of course madly in love with my husband. But what has he, and other men I’m in contact with daily, done to earn my respect, not my love.

If this question were asked of some women their response may be the job the man holds; The car he drives, the amount of his bank account or how he dresses. Some absurd materialstic answer will come out showing that deep down women of today are still somewhat like our ancestors of old, needing a man for security. Please don’t get me wrong, having a million dollars in the bank for my pleasure would be wonderful of course, but would that earn my respect for a man?

In my opinion, it’s not the work a man does, but the way a man does his work. The men I have come to respect through my life have not always had the biggest bragging rights regarding their job position. The men I’m referring to are those that get a second job mowing lawns if necessary. They work at grocery stores at night or as newspaper delivery men to make ends meat. These men put their families first. The drive that keeps these men working is the love of their families. It is these men that earn my respect. Thank you to these men in my life; my hats off to you.