Challenge #70

What are your greatest desires in life? Is a successful marriage one of them? What does a successful marriage look like? It is not a marriage in which things always go your way, things are always great, or 100% free from conflict. If things are always going your way, it's unlikely that the needs of your spouse are being met. For things to always be great would imply perfection and we know that perfection is not possible. Lastly, there is nothing wrong with conflict - conflict can and will arise. It is how you deal with conflict that matters.

How do you and your spouse address conflict? Is there yelling and screaming? Hitting or throwing things? Ignoring, walking away, storming out? There should be no problem too great that you and your spouse can not come together and work through in love and patience. Often, we save our love and patience for the rest of the world: our kids, our extended family, friends, co-workers, etc. By the time something arises with our spouse, we are all out of love and patience.

Shouldn't your spouse get the very best of you? I have no shame in saying that I want first pick from my spouse, after God of course - always know that I mean after God. So after Him, I want the first of my spouse's love and affection. The first of my spouse's kindness and patience. We all want the very best from our spouse. But are we giving that? Are we giving our spouse the cream of the crop of us? Or does your spouse get the tired you? The cranky you? The all out of time you?

Today's challenge is to give your spouse the best you that you have after fellowship with God. Give God your best and give your spouse "next" best, not whatever is left over after giving everyone else your best all day.