Should you have given your spouse a heads-up?
“I, Sheryl, take you, Bert, to be my husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or . . .”
Standing there before God and man, I grasped my soon-to-be-husband’s hands tightly. “I need to confess something, Bert. I haven’t quite mastered 1 Corinthians 13:5 yet. So, maybe I’d be more honest if I said my vows this way: ‘I, Sheryl, take you, Bert, to be my husband if you don’t insult me, hurt my feelings, or do anything to upset me from this day forward, until death do us part.’”
Even though these words would have more honestly described the woman Bert was about to spend the rest of his life with, I didn’t actually reword my wedding vows almost 13 years ago. I have no doubt, however, he would’ve appreciated the heads-up.
This week we’re focusing on the third challenge in 1 Corinthians 13:5: “[Love] is not irritable” (ESV). The Amplified Bible makes sure we get the point. “It is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered].”
What?! Irritable?! Overly sensitive?! Easily Angered?! Me?! When do I ever act like that?!
I hate making people feel as if they’re walking on eggshells, don’t you? When we’re so thin-skinned that we overreact and retaliate in ways we regret.
I struggle with overreacting – which is why Bert’s glad I’m spending time on this verse. Would the people in your life also benefit if you meditated on and applied 1 Corinthians 13:5? Let’s ask God to remind (and enable) us to practice forgiveness and mercy by not taking everything so personally, especially when (but not only when) someone’s comment or act wasn’t meant to be hurtful.
We can pray this with confidence because God knows us well. He knows where we’re the most sensitive. In fact, when I’m experiencing my worst days, the more I meditate on Scripture and focus on God (all He is to me – and I to Him) I experience more satisfaction, peace and joy then I do frustration, anger and hurt. I’m calmer. Less defensive.
When we trust God’s love for us, we become better at loving others. And the better we become at loving others, the less we’ll have to wonder if we should’ve given our spouse a heads-up before he or she said, “I do.”
What about you?
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- Would the people in your life also benefit if you meditated on and applied 1 Corinthians 13:5?
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I am so glad my wife has not given up on me already! I really need to meditate on and apply 1 Corinthians 13:5 daily if I can remember to do so. I also must remind myself to count to ten or give myself some space before saying anything I would regret later. I am so blessed by your “Today Can Be Different” blogs. Keep up the good work, Sheryl!
Thank you, FellowBeliever, for the compliment. I’m glad God is using my blog for His purpose and His glory.
I understand the need to count to ten or put space between me and Bert to prevent saying things! Boy do I. 😉
Also, (as I mentioned in the post) I notice the days I’m actually meditating on a verse or verses throughout the day, I’m less likely to blow it. Have you found that to be true for you?
Love is nor easily angered. If I can just get that part down.
Indeed, Cindy. Me, too.
Thanks for stopping by Today Can Be Different!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank YOU, Barbara, for reading my blog each week – and for sharing it on FB!!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Sheryl, are you looking in my head? I have been so hyper-sensitive for most of my life. Yes, others could have behaved better but I could have as well. Quite often my behavior has escalated the problem when I should have just stepped back and kept my mouth shut and my face expressionless. You seem to know me very well!
That’s only because God is graciously allowing me to write for His purpose for those who need to hear His heart. AND because you and I are obviously SO MUCH alike, Marla! 😉 In all honesty, most of the time, my posts are born out of those things I, myself, struggle with.
I love your honesty – and your humor, Sheryl.
Thank you, hon!