Handle With Care
Delivery
It’s that time of year when we start to order things for the ones we love! We shop, shop some more, and mostly try and find the best deals. If you are like me, I like to shop locally, but I also find a good deal or two online. It is nice and convenient, and it’s delivered to your door. When you receive it, you are hoping it was handled with care! Our marriages can be a lot like the packages that get delivered at Christmas. They are either tossed, crushed, and dented, or they are handled with care and love.
Talk With Care
When my husband and I first got married, we had to learn how to handle the other one, how to talk, to respond, and to treat with respect. We had to have a heart to heart talk. We sat down and had to make ourselves vulnerable, and say what hurt us and how we needed to feel safe and loved. This wasn’t an easy thing to do, it took more than one talk, and it took good amounts of grace for each other. We had to learn to “handle with care.”
Seasons
Each season of life, whether it be a natural season, (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter), or a spiritual season, takes some adjusting when it comes to marriage. You are now 2 people who go through things in your own life, who also now go through it as a couple. We have to learn to go through our spouses season with them and be kind, loving, forgiving, patient, and a good listener, to help them grow, and vice versa. Handle your spouses trials with care.
Our Best
Our best for our marriage is an intentional act. Learning to be, and give our best, takes time, and repetition. Its acquiring a good habit, that becomes a skilled action. Discipline is required. It is of the utmost importance. It can be easy when things are going well, to become lax in our efforts in marriage, and to let our best fall by the wayside. Our best is thinking of our spouse more than ourselves and handling them and each situation with care.
Damaged
What happens when a box gets damaged. It may even say fragile on it. You usually call and complain, they could send you a new one, or you may get credited for what the loss was. In marriage, this is not the case. “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!” This is a saying we used to say to our girls when they wanted something else. It’s part of the deal you signed up for. They may be going through a fragile time in their life, but you stick with them for better or for worse. In doing so, the heart of, “handle with care,” doesn’t change. You still love them and help them through it.
Christmas
Christmas time is hard on lots of people no matter where they are in life. When you got married, you took on all of your spouses hurts, baggage, their losses that have happened already, or the ones that will come. They will take on yours as well. Remember to handle them with care this season. Yes, we have gifts, decorations, parties, shopping, family, friends, but we also are real people, with real problems, that don’t stop because it’s Christmas. Stop, ask, and listen to the one you love. They may be acting out of sorts because they are hurting. So hold them close and handle them carefully.
Hope
God is our one and only hope! He is our refuge in a time of trouble! He is our Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, He is the Great I AM! When you are struggling in your heart, life, or marriage, know that Jesus is right there to help you through! He is your hope, your Waymaker and He is waiting for you to come to Him. Jesus loves you and can help both of you through any season! He knows how to handle us with care!!
Prayer
Our prayer for you is that whenever you see a delivery truck, a package, or a gift you will remember to handle your loved one with care. To love them enough to listen and pray with them through their hurt. That you can be honest about yours, and take steps to have hope in this season of joy, even if you have trials you may be going through.
Scripture
Monday: Philippians 2:4 says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” When we follow this scripture we do so with care. Pray you are careful with your spouse today.
Tuesday: Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Give grace to your spouse today and be careful with your words.
Wednesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” Seasons come and go, learn to comfort your spouse.
Thursday: Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” When you give your best to God, it in turn is your best to your spouse.
Friday: John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” God never gave up on us, so we show that same love for our spouse.
Saturday: Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” It may be Christmas, but don’t expect your spouse to not have any problems. Pray with them and be tenderhearted toward them.
Sunday: Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Know Jesus and you will know Hope!! He is everything we need for any situation! He cares about your marriage!!
Contact
Thank you for loving your spouse and investing daily in your marriage!! To love and know God more, and to see the blessings that follow a life lived for the Lord!! Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org or read and share more blog posts at http://happilyevermarried.org Thank you!!!!