And to refresh...the rules are every day for 30 days, do each of these items. Focus on enriching your spouse. (The challenge is actually designed for women to enrich their husbands, but I think that guys can do this for their wives too!)
Today's challenge (and for the rest of the 30 days):
"
"...love suffers long, and is kind..." 1 Cor. 13:4
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
Determine today that you will not say anything negative to or about your husband. Speak kindly to him with words of genuine encouragement.
If your husband is considerate of your needs, let him know that you have noticed. Thank him for his kindness and consideration. Thank the Lord that your husband knows how to be both tough and tender.
Sometimes it's difficult for a man to be gentle, kind or tender - especially if he hasn't had role models in these areas. If he's not a considerate person, appeal to him for help without complaining. Let him know that it's hard for you to handle some things alone. Then, when he moves in to help, don't insist that he do it your way. Be glad that he is responding, and express your gratitude.
Ultimately, you can't expect your husband to make you feel more secure, loved, etc. Remember that only God can meet the deepest needs of your heart. "
I think this is one of my most difficult areas...I stink at asking for help without complaining or grumbling. Bigger than my words are the thoughts that tumble around inside my head...
How many times have you thought to yourself "If he really loved me, he'd (fill in the blank with your issue)! How can he be so selfish to not see that I need him to do this? He's worse than the kids!" I know I do. A lot. More than I realized until the last 3 days.
However! I have been prayerful about this 30 days and the changes I'd like to have happen in me. I know that God can and will make it happen if I'm willing to be molded. I've found myself over the last days starting to think negatively, and have caught myself and said to myself "NO! I will NOT say those things to myself about my husband. If I wouldn't say them to someone else, why should I say them to myself? That's just as bad as complaining to someone else, and only feeds the process."
I am adding a new resolution to my list for 2009. This one goes to the top:
I WILL NOT SPEAK NEGATIVELY ABOUT MY HUSBAND.
Did you notice that I didn't add "to him or someone else"? I'm just flat out not going to do it!
And now, I'm adding my own little bit to this - share with me, or Farmie, or anyone else that's doing this, what you've done, noticed, commented on that is encouraging and positive that goes along with the daily challenge.
Here are mine
Day 1 - The tension leaves BB when I tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of the hard work he's put in over the last 9 months to change his lifestyle and the progress he's made.
Day 2 - BB took it upon himself to clean the laundry room, and reversed the doors on my new washer and dryer so they open away from each other, not into each other. He also shored up and leveled out a trunk we have as decoration on our entertainment center so it doesn't bounce and thump as we do our Wii Fit workouts.
Day 3 - Well, this very morning, as he was getting ready to leave...he brought in our milk delivery and took all the trash and recycling out, and put the containers at the curb for collection. I didn't have the heart to remind him that it was delayed because of the holiday yesterday...he was so generous in his taking care of things, I didn't want to discourage him!
Please, share with me the things you're doing, and seeing in your beloved!
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