Corona Devo 74
May and June are big wedding months. Maybe your anniversary is soon.
Stop for a minute and try to remember the rush you used to feel when you thought of your sweetie or caught a glimpse of them.
Corona has brought so much "together" time, that I am ashamed to admit that some days I have fallen into a (dangerous) pattern of taking my husband and our marriage for granted.
There is nothing "hands-free" about a marriage.
It's like a pot on the stove, if you don't tend to it, it can boil over--or worse, if left alone too long the contents can burn away and things can go up in flames.
My mom (such a wise woman!) used to say that "Marriage is work everyday." She never said it in spite. She said it in wisdom, and she was right.
It is work to be patient, to be kind, to compromise and to be humble. It's very hard to accept that our way might not be the only way to do something well.
The truth is, men and women are very different. I don't have to tell you that: consider our contrasting interpretations of loading the dishwasher, folding laundry and choosing a show on T.V. We are different.
But the other side of that truth is that God had an amazing and beautiful plan with His idea to unite us in marriage. Opposites attract. They are the Yin to our Yang. We balance each other.
Remember the adrenaline and emotional-highs you felt as a newlywed? God hasn't removed that spark from our hearts, but we need to keep it kindled and watch that it doesn't get snuffed out by busy-ness, chores, hobbies, work and children. All of these things play into our daily lives, but the Bible elevates our relationship with our spouses above them all.
The Lord made me for my husband, and made you for your spouse:
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ~Genesis 2:18
In God's own words, we are "just right" for each other.
And as a wife we have a special and powerful opportunity to help our husbands in ways that no one else can. They are vulnerable with us and they rely on us to encourage them and support them. Our husbands need and desire us to respect them. This is a critical role and a Christian friend once cautioned me to take it seriously, or someone else might.
And let the wife see that she respects her husband. ~Ephesians 5:33
When we respect them, it fills up their love-tank. When we don't, it deteriorates them and our relationship with them.
Sometimes I try to ask myself what it would be like to be married to me? (The standards that I set, my responses to things, etc.)
I love (and am convicted) that the Bible doesn't mince words about what kind of wife NOT to be:
Here's today's marital challenge to myself and you--(let's try it!): As we begin to respect and champion our husband's more and more, instead of nagging and nit-picking them--watch the results that the Lord will bring.
The Bible says that our role is to respect him, and what's his role as the husband?
However, let each of you love his wife... ~Ephesians 5:33
Watch to see how he loves you in new ways as you grow in your respect for him. The Lord will handle the details, but it is a beautiful symbiotic cycle of loving one another and also being loved.
We want to be loved. For who we are. For all that we manage and juggle in our homes and families and our minds. For reassurance that everything will be okay and that we are okay.
The Lord gave us an emotional desire for our husbands to be our protectors and defenders, and for them to love us.
God created our husbands with these qualities, but we must give them the respect needed for them to fulfill this role.
We are a team--husbands and wives. And think about it (remember!)--we are a pretty great team.
As I was writing today's devotional, my husband was working in the garden and yard. I watched him take several trips from front to back yard, dumping dirt and weeds in the wheelbarrow. I felt guilty just sitting still at the computer.
Then I saw the couple across the street painting their front porch together.
Then I heard the cardinal couple that has a nest out my back window singing back and forth to each other.
Then I watched my friend and her husband spreading out their 3rd pick-up bed of mulch around their yard and flowerbeds.
Couples were working together everywhere. But my husband was busting it on his own.
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ~Genesis 2:18
Sometimes God makes His points ridiculously clear.
I had the scripture in front of me, and my husband too.
Sometimes respect looks like helping out with the yard work. I got up and helped.
Whatever it looks like for you today--Stop for a minute and try to remember the rush you used to feel when you thought of your sweetie or caught a glimpse of them.
God united us. Let's do all that we can to keep the love and respect in our marriages!
Stop for a minute and try to remember the rush you used to feel when you thought of your sweetie or caught a glimpse of them.
Corona has brought so much "together" time, that I am ashamed to admit that some days I have fallen into a (dangerous) pattern of taking my husband and our marriage for granted.
There is nothing "hands-free" about a marriage.
It's like a pot on the stove, if you don't tend to it, it can boil over--or worse, if left alone too long the contents can burn away and things can go up in flames.
My mom (such a wise woman!) used to say that "Marriage is work everyday." She never said it in spite. She said it in wisdom, and she was right.
It is work to be patient, to be kind, to compromise and to be humble. It's very hard to accept that our way might not be the only way to do something well.
The truth is, men and women are very different. I don't have to tell you that: consider our contrasting interpretations of loading the dishwasher, folding laundry and choosing a show on T.V. We are different.
But the other side of that truth is that God had an amazing and beautiful plan with His idea to unite us in marriage. Opposites attract. They are the Yin to our Yang. We balance each other.
Remember the adrenaline and emotional-highs you felt as a newlywed? God hasn't removed that spark from our hearts, but we need to keep it kindled and watch that it doesn't get snuffed out by busy-ness, chores, hobbies, work and children. All of these things play into our daily lives, but the Bible elevates our relationship with our spouses above them all.
The Lord made me for my husband, and made you for your spouse:
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ~Genesis 2:18
In God's own words, we are "just right" for each other.
And as a wife we have a special and powerful opportunity to help our husbands in ways that no one else can. They are vulnerable with us and they rely on us to encourage them and support them. Our husbands need and desire us to respect them. This is a critical role and a Christian friend once cautioned me to take it seriously, or someone else might.
And let the wife see that she respects her husband. ~Ephesians 5:33
When we respect them, it fills up their love-tank. When we don't, it deteriorates them and our relationship with them.
Sometimes I try to ask myself what it would be like to be married to me? (The standards that I set, my responses to things, etc.)
I love (and am convicted) that the Bible doesn't mince words about what kind of wife NOT to be:
- It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. ~Proverbs 21:9
- It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. ~Proverbs 21:19
- A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. ~Proverbs 27:15
Here's today's marital challenge to myself and you--(let's try it!): As we begin to respect and champion our husband's more and more, instead of nagging and nit-picking them--watch the results that the Lord will bring.
The Bible says that our role is to respect him, and what's his role as the husband?
However, let each of you love his wife... ~Ephesians 5:33
Watch to see how he loves you in new ways as you grow in your respect for him. The Lord will handle the details, but it is a beautiful symbiotic cycle of loving one another and also being loved.
We want to be loved. For who we are. For all that we manage and juggle in our homes and families and our minds. For reassurance that everything will be okay and that we are okay.
The Lord gave us an emotional desire for our husbands to be our protectors and defenders, and for them to love us.
God created our husbands with these qualities, but we must give them the respect needed for them to fulfill this role.
We are a team--husbands and wives. And think about it (remember!)--we are a pretty great team.
As I was writing today's devotional, my husband was working in the garden and yard. I watched him take several trips from front to back yard, dumping dirt and weeds in the wheelbarrow. I felt guilty just sitting still at the computer.
Then I saw the couple across the street painting their front porch together.
Then I heard the cardinal couple that has a nest out my back window singing back and forth to each other.
Then I watched my friend and her husband spreading out their 3rd pick-up bed of mulch around their yard and flowerbeds.
Couples were working together everywhere. But my husband was busting it on his own.
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ~Genesis 2:18
Sometimes God makes His points ridiculously clear.
I had the scripture in front of me, and my husband too.
Sometimes respect looks like helping out with the yard work. I got up and helped.
Whatever it looks like for you today--Stop for a minute and try to remember the rush you used to feel when you thought of your sweetie or caught a glimpse of them.
God united us. Let's do all that we can to keep the love and respect in our marriages!
Blessings,
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/
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