Day 35: Personal Growth Grows Love

Head: Yesterday, I talked about making "time" or "rearranging" time but today I want to talk about making "room to grow".  Have you ever heard or thought about what one of the number one reason's a relationship is destroyed?  Recently, I read that it was "control".  That when one person controls another, it can destroy their relationship.  Now, I'm not sure if that's the number 1.  But I can certainly see why and have seen examples in relationships where control constantly hurt another. 

In my own marriage there have been more times than I want to count and am ashamed of where I have tried to "control" my husband.  Controlling my husband is not the "help meet" that God intended.  I might have justified the control by saying I thought something was best for him.  Others might control their spouse because they fear change or because they don't want them to get an upper hand in the relationship.  However, what does the Bible say about love... 

 "Love is patient, love is kind and love is not jealous". 1 Corinthians 13:4

The other day, I posted a "saying" on my facebook page referencing that opposites attract and that those opposites can make our relationships stronger.  I received one comment about how that was "so true" and another comment about how "yeah but, my husband doesn't even consider me."  The message I was hoping that would brighten someones day is that, no matter our differences, God puts us together so that our differences, strengthen each other.  My husbands short falls, are my strengths.  My short falls, are his strengths.  When we recognize that this is how it is suppose to work, we grow.  We don't tear each other down for what we may think is a weakness, we build each other up with our strengths.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9

Heart: As we consider growing out of control and into accepting differences, we also need to consider how the works God has placed in nature can help us grow.  This weekend end I was trimming back the thorny, over grown rose bushes in my back yard and found several empty birds nests.  My mom always used to say, "Even birds build their homes, before they lay their eggs."  This was my mom's way of saying "marriage, then sex".  But what I found was interesting is that the birds lived among the thorns.  They built their nests together in a place that would protect them and yeah, sure the thorns were a nuisance to other animals, they were a safe haven for them.  They also got to enjoy the bushy green leaves dotted with many pink roses, even for a short time.  I also then thought, you know Jesus wore the crown of thorns and with Jesus our marriage, home and children are safe.  

Hands:  Go back to the list you made earlier in your challenges of your spouses weaknesses or make one now.  Now, consider how your strengths that make his weaknesses stronger.  Make a note of them and again, thank your husband for one of his strong suits.