Marriage and Family

Song of Solomon 2

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

Getting ready for our trip had everyone running around in different directions last week. Toothbrush, check! Medicine, check! Packing all the kids stuff, a-never-ending CHECK!

Then add giving 2 little toddlers a bath right before we leave. Early morning baths with cranky toddlers are never a pretty sight! Then the crying starts. More crying.

Stress was at an all time high. I could see it written all over my sweet husband’s face as well.

I have a type A personality for sure. I like to make sure everyone is happy, everything is taken care of, and everything is in a row… bing, bang, boom.

When things go crazy, people are stressed, and expectations are not being met, I can unravel quite quickly.

As I’m drying the kids off from their bath, trying to help them change their attitudes, getting them dressed, my husband said it.

“Do you realize it is already 8:30? How much more do we need to do? We need to get moving.”

“I’m trying, I’m trying! I’m not perfect. We all just need to do our best, and keep moving. I’m just a little stressed!”

He replied, “we are ALL stressed.”

Then it came… those words I wish I could take back. “Well be a leader and change the mood!”

_ _ _ _

Do we REALLY think that by telling our husbands to be a leader, that they are magically going to become the perfect person? When we married them, did we think that everything would be like our dating years… all dreamy and picture-perfect?

Real life is full of short-fuse moments. These are the moments that tell us what is going on within our heart. When stress is high, our true self comes out.

So how does a wife prepare herself for those short-fuse moments?

First, prepare your heart daily…

1) Be Spirit-filled
2) Drop Your Expectations At The Door
3) Don’t Be A Perfectionist

When fuses blow…

1) Be Quick To Forgive
2) Be Quick To Say I’m sorry
3) Don’t hold grudges

Give a whole lot of GRACE! Dip and be-dipped by GRACE!

So many times we want to be extended a handful of grace, but we never want to give it out. We are grace-hoarders. Learn to constantly give grace to your spouse.

For Courtney’s Completing Him Challenge:

June 14 – Post Pictures from your dating days (or tell us all about it!). Think about one thing you used to do or have as a couple that you have lost in the shuffle of life. How can you regain it?

Here are a few of our dating pictures…

One thing that has gotten lost in the shuffle is just having fun together. Playing games. Being silly. That’s what we had fun doing while dating. What about you? Feel free to link away:

I’m linking up with Marriage Mondays, Completing Him Challenge, and To Love Their Husbands.

If you have ANY marriage post, please feel free to add it below:

Share |

Thanks for visiting!