When I read something, I’m always interested in the “story behind the story.”

I can’t help but wonder if there’s a hint of St. Peter’s own marriage and prayers in these words he wrote: “Husbands…be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect… so that nothing will hinder your prayers,” How did he know that prayers are hindered by shabby treatment of your wife?

Could it be that one day Peter came home full of himself and his own needs? He didn’t ask his wife about her day or listen to her. Maybe he felt that his work as an apostle was more important than anything she did. After dinner, Peter left the table without a word of thanks and went to the garden to pray. He prayed eloquently, asking God for divine help but it seemed as though he were talking to himself. He pleaded on his knees, then lay facedown and wept, but it felt as if his prayers were going nowhere.

Finally Peter may have remembered how he had treated his wife. He went back into the house, kissed her and apologized for the way he had treated her. He asked her how she was doing and listened to her as he had never done before.

Later that night Peter stepped back into the garden to pray once again. This time, it was amazing! Not only did God listen, but God answered.

Perhaps it was the next day that Peter, the husband, penned the words, “Husbands…be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect… so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”