What is your pet peeve? What drives you absolutely crazy? What causes you more frustration and resentment than anything else in your life? What causes you to want to walk out of the situation you are in right now?
The
answer to these questions may be a clue to explain why you no longer feel the
same intensity of love and contentment with your existence now, compared to what
you used to feel. Or maybe you are happy with parts of your life, but not
everything.
Maybe
there are household chores that no one ever does but you; the reason may be
that they never think about them. You could have a job jar or a chore list that
everyone could consult each day, and sign up to do one or more of them.
There
could be a ministry that you thought you were involved in with a team, but it
turns out that one member of the team ran with his/her own ideas and made
decisions without consulting the rest of the team.
Possibly
your mate takes you for granted and your date nights and romantic trysts occur
farther and farther apart. Buying a calendar and reserving a time each week for
one another will go a long way in improving this record. Emergencies may arise
occasionally, but otherwise, you can look forward to this time together.
Your
mate may spend more than your budget allows, and it is hard to balance the
checkbook, or pay off the credit card debt every month. If heart-felt talks and
counseling does not remedy the situation, separate bank accounts with a monthly
allowance deposited in each one may solve this issue.
A
lack of reliability can make you feel like you cannot trust your mate, friend,
associate, etc.; when a person neglects to read your blog, texts, emails or
answer your calls, you feel slighted and unimportant to them; a mate that is
flirting with the opposite sex causes insecurity and jealousy to invade your
peace; a lack of consideration and appreciation may drive a wedge between any
two people.
There
is hope for any situation once we stop attempting to control our life, and we
completely surrender our will and our future to God. He has perfect plans for
us (Jeremiah 29:11), and we find our peace in the shelter of His wings (Psalm
91:4).
Prayer:
Father
God, help us to admit to our mate, co-worker, child, neighbor, acquaintance,
etc. when something bothers us. Remind us not to criticize or accuse, but to
choose a time when we are both available to chat about any negative issues that
arise between us. Help us to see that we may not be able to find an alternate
solution to the problem, but talking about it often diffuses the negative
emotions in the situation.
When
we come to understand another's viewpoint, and they see where we are coming
from, peace is often restored in the relationship; especially when You remind
us that we are human too, and are often frustrating and annoying to other
people. Point out to us the good in each of us, so that we can focus on our
blessings and learn to be content.
Thought
for the Day:
Loving
someone is always a choice, and contentment is what we make it; when we view
life from a heavenly perspective, the little foxes that spoil the vine cannot
compare to the blessing, which God gives to us every single day.
-
Song of Solomon 2:15; Jeremiahs 17:7-8
