As 2011 comes to a close, it is a great time to take a spouse inventory.
This apple might not be what you think. I am not suggesting you take an inventory of your spouse, (because that is too easy) I am suggesting, you take an inventory of how you are as a spouse.
Because I don't know the details of you lives I will try to be more specific than I am vague in this suggestion. :)
So try this on for size.
Think about the last time you spoke to your spouse.
*What were you thinking about?
*What can my spouse do for me? OR *What can I do for my spouse?
*How were you talking?
*respectfully? OR *disrespectfully?
*Were you encouraging OR *discouraging?
Okay, how about the last time you were in their presence.
Did you initiate physical touch? *kiss them hello or goodbye? *reach out and take their hand? *give a friendly bum slap?
*Did you express love and appreciation?
*Did you look for a way to help or serve them?
*Did you listen or do all the talking?
We live in a world that is really good at placing blame on other people. It is all too easy to do this in our own lives. In the end though what other people do is not what we are responsible for. We are responsible for what we do.
What are YOU doing to make your marriage stronger?
What are YOU doing to love and support your spouse?
I am in no way saying that this is always easy, especially because we are trained in the world we live in to absolve responsibility for our actions if we were wronged first.
But, we do follow the Savior Jesus Christ and He has shown us a better way, the only way. To take the higher road. Not the easiest way all the time.
He has also taught to forgive. Forgive your spouse and forgive YOURSELF. If the answers to these questions were not what you wanted that is not the issue any more. Now the issue is, what will you do about it.
This is an eye opening apple. I hope you do it. I hope we all consistently do it and then do better. That's the idea right?
What questions would you add to this list? What new years resolutions do you have set to help better your marriage?
1 comment:
wonderful apple. i need to take self inventory more often because it is almost ALWAYS me that needs to change in order to bring a little more happiness. one of my goals is to clearly communicate my needs/wants instead of expecting caleb to just know. :) and to try to meet his "love languages" this year! :)
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