"'Receive this as a warning. This forty day journey cannot be taken lightly. It is challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination. It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and marriage. Consider is a dare, from others who have done it before you."
This is the opening page of the book. It was definitely a "true" warning, not just an introduction page. My past attempts have most definitely been taken lightly and with selfish motives. My motivation was that if I took the initiative to do the things that were instructed, then I could hold my husband accountable to the same actions. If he wasn't doing them, then I could hold it over him and have one more thing that I could point out that he didn't care about and had failed at! You see, I always let him know when I was doing the challenge and I expected him to get on board too. PERIOD! VERY selfish! Not the best approach for being a good wife who blesses and sets her husband up for success..... I have learned much in the past 4 years and have felt compelled to, once more, to attempt this dare, with the hopes that my motivation is for far less selfish reasons. Beginning with not letting my husband know that I am taking the Love Dare!
DAY #1: Love Is Patient
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
TODAY'S DARE:
Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue that to say something you'll regret.
MY REFLECTION:
My husband is very rarely home so, we don't spend a lot of "quality" time with each other. When we do get the chance to spend time together, it is spent catching up on what bills got paid, what bills need to be paid, how the kids are doing in school... etc... you know, normal married conversation. But that's the extent of our conversation and the majority of the time those discussions end up in a disagreement of sorts. Thus, leading me to this love dare. I want to change that in myself. I want my husband to be my friend again. So, about the dare... I'm usually pretty quick to point out when my husband speaks negatively or to point our something that I think he needs to work better at it. (Remember, I'm a work in process too!! :) Today, my husband was home most of the day and it was GREAT. Not a single argument, not one negative word, and we actually curled up on the couch and snuggled together and fell asleep, in the middle of the day. It was nice and reminded me of the days before we were married when we used to stay up and talk about EVERYTHING into the wee hours of the night. I look forward to the coming weeks and see where this journey takes me in my relationship with my husband and God.
"Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." James 1:19
To read today's full dare from the book "The Love Dare" by Stephen & Alex Kendrick please copy and paste to your address bar the link posted below.
http://www.klove.com/blog/post/2010/01/06/Day-1-of-The-Love-Dare.aspx
To read today's full dare from the book "The Love Dare" by Stephen & Alex Kendrick please copy and paste to your address bar the link posted below.
http://www.klove.com/blog/post/2010/01/06/Day-1-of-The-Love-Dare.aspx
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