Friday, October 17, 2008

Wait a minute... we're on the same team!

Gary and I went to a marriage seminar once, and they recommended that when things got a little stressed between us we should remind each other to STOP... and remember that we are on the same team!

I saw a card once that stuck with me.  On the front of it were a pair of boxing gloves, and inside it said:  Am I winning?  The card was a great reminder to me that when you are fighting as husband and wife, neither one of you are winning:  in fact, you are both LOSING, and often LOSING a LOT, including your prayers being hindered and you're not doing what is right and your duty in the Lord:

In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]”  (1Pet 3:7 AMP)

Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.” (Col 3:18 AMP)

Challenge:  STOP and remind each other you are on the same team when you begin to have an impasse.  Don't allow walls to build or sweep things under the rug to fester and cause problems.  Be mature and live out what Scripture tells us:

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!   Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.   By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” (Eccl 4:9-12 MESSAGE)

No comments: