Challenge #51

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
You know what I love most about the weekend? Spending more time with my spouse. During the week, we are both very busy and bogged down with obligations. But on the weekend, that's our time. Whether we're running around doing stuff or just relaxing at home, I enjoy being together. Someone once made a negative comment about the amount of time we spend together, saying that they could never spend that much time with anyone. I believe that when you capture the essence of what marriage is really supposed to be - you and your spouse loving and serving one another, growing together in spirit and truth, having more than just the title of "husband" or "wife" but being best friends, closest confidants, on the same team, biggest fans of eachother, etc. - you will want to spend a great deal of time with your spouse! You will miss them when they are away. You will long to be reunited. You will do your best to enjoy the time you have with them, however great or small. They will be your greatest blessing on earth!

I know some of you out there feel this way and there are others who don't feel this way, but want to. There are many things in this world that can prevent you from ever achieving this type of intimacy and oneness with your spouse, but there is one in particular on my mind today and that is this: SELFISHNESS. Yes, you read right. Selfishness. Any time what "I" want comes before what "you" or "we" need. Selfishness. There is something so dangerous about it and I will tell you what it is: subtlety. Selfishness is such a sneaky feeling. It really will creep up on you! You will find yourself thinking and even saying things that are purely selfish without even realizing it. That is why it is so important to die to yourself daily. What does that mean? Deny yourself. Put others before yourself. Think of the needs of others before the wants of yourself.

Today's challenge is to assume the attitude of a servant. For the entire day, let your mindset be this "how can I serve you today?" And whatever comes to mind, do it!

Please don't take this out of context. I'm not saying that you have to be your spouse's slave in any way, shape, or form. What is the difference between a slave and a servant? A slave is forced into bondage and does things unwillingly. That's where most of us keep our mindset: "I have to do this for you even though I don't feel like it or I don't want to." A servant does things out of love, honor, respect, and for the good of the one they are serving. The mindset of a servant is "how can I serve you? How can I help you? How can I love you?" Servants serve and do so willingly. Feel free to check out what the dictionary says it means to serve and see how you can apply this to your spouse today. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serve