instead i feel compelled to share something that happened a couple of weeks ago. truth be told, it was more than something that "happened." this thing rocked. my. world.
it's a bit of long (and again, boring) story, but the seating situation in our living room has recently changed. after acquiring a piano (yay!), we had to take out a large arm chair and were left with our sectional. in our
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| (heidi - do you see the plastic strawberry? looks like i don't have wait until we move to get it! ha!) |
again, not a big deal, but he is now joining me on the couch, where there really is a primary position and a less desirable secondary position.
if you know my husband, you know he self-sacrifices and gives me the better spot. (love.)
are you asking yourself if this all is enough to rock my world?
wait for it....
so a couple of weeks ago, i'm all snuggled up with my favorite blanket in the best seat in the house, and my darling husband is stretched out on the "other" side. he looks less comfortable than i feel, so i suggest that he switches positions and puts his feet up on the coffee table - wouldn't that be more comfortable (and aren't i sooo helpful)?
he replies - wait for it....
i don't like feet on the coffee table.
i. don't. like. feet. on. the. coffee. table.
my brain slowly processes these words and my mind's memory reel flashes with a montage of my feet - in slippers, in flip-flops, in socks, bare, painting my toenails-forgoodnesssake!- on that coffee table.
what? what? i question. you have a problem with feet on the coffee table? i ALWAYS put my feet on the coffee table!
for the next 24 hours - i am not kidding - i question him about this coffee table thing. but the thing that i just can't get over is that he has never told me before.
do you know how many things i dislike that i've never told him?
exactly none.
any little dissatisfaction, distaste or dislike that crosses my pretty little mind - i mention. out loud. to him.
not just things about him, but about life, people, stuff and the world in general. every little thing.
and here we've been married for 15 years (of propped-on-the-coffee-table-feet) and he never uttered a word about it.
he is not a saint (sorry sweetie!) and he is not a passive person. he chose to let it go. he doesn't like it, but it wasn't important enough to worked up about. he literally works to live the words of Paul:
Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
just as God through Christ
has forgiven you.
eph 4:32 nlt
is it possible that i could keep some of my opinions to myself and just let them go? that i could chose kindness and tender-heartedness over brutal openness?
with God's help, i believe yes. and with God's help, i'm working on it.
what's been rocking your world these days?
Becky, This post was a good reminder as to what has been rocking my world lately.It would seem God is really trying to teach me something. I have been challenged lately to be kind to husband, To not be offended and to be his friend. He is always the nicer person in our marriage and he too never tells me if I am bugging him. The Lord even got me to even do a devotional about this at a wedding shower recently, so now my faults and challenge are out there for all to know. Here are some verses that have been challenging me proverbs 17:9 and proverbs 19:11
ReplyDeletethanks for those verse, D! i will be posting these in my kitchen for daily reminders. (glad to know i'm not alone in this!) :)
DeleteGreat post. Exactly like something Beth Moore would write. You have a gift my friend. And you are blessed with a man of incredible grace. Bless you as you two model such Christlikeness to your kiddos.
ReplyDeleteI looked for the strawberry before I read your note...I guess I could have reached it or sent Evan in after it. Becky, you have a way of speaking right to my heart every time you write. Thanks!
ReplyDelete