"When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things."
Romans 2:1
TODAY'S DARE:
Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for God's forgiveness, then humble yourself enough to admit them to your spouse. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask your spouse for forgiveness as well. No matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism, accept it by receiving it as council.
MY REFLECTION:
I was at a neighbors house when a storm hit. Lightening and thunder all around. One of those moments when all you want to do is curl up in bed with a good book and settle in for night. I ran home in between lightening streaks and burst through my front door soaking wet, just to realize that no one was in the house. Now, I have a big black mutt named Bonzie, who is absolutely terrified of storms. What I came home to was a picture torn off the wall, books all over the hall floor (from where she had tried to claw her way into my bedroom), a puddle of pee, and a terrified, wide-eyed, trembling doggie. I couldn't get mad at her, but, I was mad. I had left my youngest daughter at home to be with Bonzie while I visited our neighbor. She had left the house to help her dad, whom I had also made aware that I was visiting and why I had left our daughter behind. So, you can guess who I took my anger out on! Not the dog, of course! My "innocent" husband. He and a friend were sitting on the front porch by this time listening and watching the storm. I flung open the front door and proceeded too "chew out" my husband. Yeah, I know, in front of his friend too! Bad girl! I said all that I had to say, came in and slammed the door. Didn't feel any better, didn't accomplish anything, other than to humiliate myself and possibly embarrassing my husband. He soon came in and quietly sat on the couch. Normally, this would be about the time that he stomps around and refuses to look at me or accept any apologies. He looked at me and with tears in my eyes, I humbly asked him to forgive me and explained that I knew I had no right to take my anger out on him. Do you know what my husband then did?? He tried to hold it back... not very successfully. He laughed. He said that I was the funniest sight, coming out there with my hair sticking every where, mascara streaming down my face and soaking wet. He said I looked like a mad woman. He knew I was mad but understood that I just needed an outlet and he was willing to be that for me if it meant I didn't kill the dog. Bless his heart!! He heard my heart and responded to it, not my actions! I sure do love that man!!! I am not always received with such understanding, but it sure is nice knowing that my husband loves me unconditionally and is willing to get to know my heart so he can tolerate the rare occasions of the unleashed, unstable wild woman! :)
"Each one must examine his own work . . . in regard to himself alone." Galatians 6:4
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/2010/01/31/Love-Dare-Day-26.aspx
