Are you a people watcher? I am…in stores, at the park, at church, and even on TV. {I like to watch HGTV shows that focus on decision-making between couples. It just fascinates me.}
I like to observe how people interact with each other, especially husbands and wives.
I think it is usually apparent which couples are happy and comfortable with each other and which ones are experiencing the tension that comes from unresolved problems.
I take no pleasure in seeing that friction. In fact, I often wonder where those ill feelings started and pray for them. {I know…that may seem a little odd to pray for a couple I have never met, but I do.}
The Holy Spirit keeps whispering to me is that love and forgiveness are vital.
Here is what Romans 13: 8-10 says about love:
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (emphasis added)
Is this the rule in your heart? Are you holding your actions and words to this standard?
Ask yourself those questions before God. Ask God those questions. I believe that He will gently show you the answers and show you where you can make adjustments in your thoughts, attitudes, actions, and words.
Hand-in-hand with love is the decision to forgive.
If you’re like me, you are well aware of your own sin and your need of forgiveness from our Heavenly Father.
You’re probably familiar with your husband’s sins, too, but maybe you feel more upset than tenderhearted toward him when his sin impacts your life.
I want to encourage you to ponder Matthew 6:14-16, which says,
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Those are serious words with serious consequences.
At the same time, they are beautiful words with a glorious outcome.
We each have the ability to choose: forgiveness for ourselves and our husbands….or not.
That decision can be harder than we’d like. {At least for me it has been hard more times than I’d like to admit.}
It is a choice that must be informed by love.
It is a choice can have results far beyond our ability to predict.
As we walk in love and forgiveness, the tension and strife that seeks to have a place in our marriages will find no foothold.
I believe that love and forgiveness will be evident to those who are watching us as we go about our daily lives with our spouses…a living testimony.
Our loving example might just be the catalyst to spark a conversation that provides an open door to share the goodness of God and His faithfulness to heal hearts and restore marriages or to just make a good marriage even better.
Praying for love and forgiveness to flow through all of us,
Rebecca
image via Pinterest and Erin Lindsey Images
