May 12
Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another. - Colossians 3:12-13, NKJV
The differences between my husband and myself were the basis for many fights. My husband liked everything in its place while I never even notice when things are a mess. He was very outgoing, able to recall people’s names easily. In contrast, I am almost a recluse and can’t even remember the faces of people I’ve met.
One day, following weeks of tension and fighting triggered by these differences, we began to make a study of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We recognized our own particular spiritual gifts, and they were totally opposite from each other. This led us to recognize other differences, acknowledge those differences by name, learn to accept them in each other, and then grow to appreciate them for the balance they gave to our marriage relationship. I cannot adequately convey the blessing this was, the peace that resulted, and the love that increased between us simply because after years of doing it “my way,” we finally followed the Creator’s wise directions for diversity in our marriage.
From God's Story
