17 NEVER PUBLICLY EXPOSE OR RIDICULE YOUR MATE

My wife and I were having dinner with another couple when the husband told an embarrassing story about his wife. Everyone blushed but him. Another time, we were visiting a congregation and listening to the pastor tell story after story about his wife and children. His humor made his wife look silly and ridiculous.

Few things can rip a marriage apart with more devastation than public ridicule. Making fun of your spouse or demeaning him reveals your lack of esteem and honor. Take these steps to avoid exposing and demeaning your spouse in public:

Never tell jokes with your spouse as the punch line.

Get permission from your spouse to tell any personal stories.

Decide always to honor and praise your mate in public.

Make remarks about your mate that show how you cherish and care for him or her.

Refuse to listen to others who degrade their mates.

Refuse to tell off-color or ethnically disparaging jokes about anyone, including your mate.

Treat your mate in public the way you want to be treated.

Try this: Ask your spouse to tell you honestly what you do or say in public that embarrasses him. Then stop doing or saying that.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.

Prov. 15:4