Love is a choice. Think about that for a minute. A choice.
Each and every day we choose to love or we choose to not love.
My husband and I have been together for eleven years, married for six. In the first two years of our relationship we fought A LOT. Our ongoing argument seemed to be Eric telling me I was so unhappy because I wasn’t accepting him for who he was. My walk with God was all over the place. I walked on the path he paved for me when I felt like it at that stage of life. And so did my husband. I wanted my husband to cater to my needs which I wasn’t even sure of those needs myself. Eric was the first person to put me in my place that I actually heard.
Many people get married and experience a HUGE disappointment with their spouse because the truth is you realize you married an imperfect person. Once you realize that we are all flawed your vision becomes more beautiful.
Pride was and still knocks us over once in awhile in our marriage. I didn’t realize it years ago that I was prideful. I thought I was somehow better more capable than my husband. If you are having an arugment with your spouse today stop those thoughts immediatley. Pride will run wild in your mind and turn into anger which will harden your heart.
Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” from The Message “The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.”
I needed to make the choice to love my husband. Each day. Every day. Intentionally. I needed to be reminded that he was created in the image of God. It’s not just marriages that are constantly a tug at our heart strings, it’s all our relationships. Each day we have a choice to hold onto our pride, our resentment our anger, or we can choose to love. And when we choose love, we learn to let go.
Marriage is intended to help us mature.
We take turns with our spouse as pilot and co-pilot of a jet plane. When our spouse exposes a flaw or weakness in our character, we need to react to listen and learn. We are navigating this plane together. We are all rough around the edges. It is our spouses job to sand us as smooth as God created us to be. Today I love the person my husband is. I love that the way to grow closer is to grow closer to God. We aren’t completely smooth yet, but are edges are rounder now.
Today I encourage you to choose to love. Love the way Christ loves us. So that not only your marriage will flourish all your relationships will blossom.
Jane
You said it so beautifully. Marriage teaches us so much about ourselves. My big one was also pride. I had no idea how arrogant I was but I had to see it to help my marriage. It was really hard to see that in myself. Thank God that my husband made me see it!
bataviasbest
Thank you Jane. Pride… it’s a tough one. I’m happy to hear your husband softened your heart as well! Praise God for husbands 🙂
Clare Speer
Love this reminder that love is a choice and to “choose” to love our husbands…. that is a great reminder for all of us that are married! And good words on pride!
bataviasbest
Thanks Clare! Glad you enjoyed! Here’s to choosing to love our husbands!
Sarah Koontz {Grounded & Surrounded}
Iron sharpens iron that is for sure. It is as if God uses my husband’s shortcomings to grow me up in a way that nothing else could. Choose love not pride…love it Tasia! Thank you for the important reminder.
Chris Carter
Ah… such a beautiful message and this is one that is near and dear to my heart!! Love is about choices, sacrifices and stretching ourselves like Christ did for us. I have found incredible fruit in doing just that for my marriage!
Janet Reeves
“Marriage is intended to help us mature.” I love that! And once we know it’s true, we’re wise when we learn to cooperate with the process as God works in both of us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Janet