Satan
will make sure that our family and friends speak disparaging remarks about our
mate. They will listen to our complaints and agree with us, embellishing our
remarks with inflated thoughts of their own.
We
have unmet needs that we expect our mate to fulfill for us. They may have no
clue about our needs; or they may know what we want, but feel overwhelmed by
our expectations.
At
times, we are too honest in expressing our opinions, beliefs or
disappointments. We may assume that we know why our mate said or did something,
but we end up misunderstanding the clues and jumping to the wrong conclusions.
We
can learn to be honestly grateful for every gift, act of service, amount of
quality time, physical touch, or word of affirmation and encouragement our mate
takes the time to share with us.
We
can show appreciation for the simplest chore, like taking out the garbage or
washing dishes and clothes every day, to the most difficult task, such as
building furniture or painting the house.
Rather
than harboring expectations, we can practice relieving one another's burdens.
Bringing supper home from the deli, taking the perma-press to the dry cleaners,
hiring a neighborhood teen to mow the lawn, washing each other's car and filling
the tank when the gas is low, etc. speak volumes to our mate about the fact
that we notice all they do to make our life better.
Prayer:
Father
God, remind us that You exhort us that it is better not to make a vow at all,
than to make a vow and break it (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Remind us that the
commitment that we make in our marriage vows are not idle words, but promises
that we should be willing to live up to and achieve.
You
initiated marriage so that we can model Christ's union with Jesus' Bride - the
church. Teach us to serve, submit to and prefer one another before our own
self. With Christ in us, we can step aside and allow Him to unconditionally
love our mate through us.
Thought
for the Day:
"Happily
Ever After" does not happen automatically after the marriage vows; this
state of fulfillment takes work, premeditated service, altering our selfishness,
and a commitment to make one another glad they married us.
