Dogs, Gardens, and the Every-Day Stuff
Refined by Marriage Part 3
There's feeding and walking the dog, mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, watering the garden, doing the laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, painting, and an incredible number of other projects that fill our married days. None of these things are in themselves difficult, but all of these tasks added together can seem daunting.
Each of these tasks can add a level of stress and frustration to marriage, especially if you argue over who does what or what equals 'acceptably clean'. There's a certain amount of honest communication that needs to take place to ensure these things get done. Unless those discussions are had and responsibilities are assigned in the appropriate way things will get messy and quickly. And nobody wants messy in their marriage - whether it's an emotional mess or an actual mess.
These always seem like such small, insignificant things, but here's the reality:
If you can't take care of the small stuff, then the big stuff gets additionally overwhelming and the stress of the small stuff makes the thought about the big stuff unbearable.
It's in attention to detail and the honest communication of expectations that the small things fall into place. This should be a pattern we follow in all parts of life. These actions refine your marriage and your self.
Taking the time to take care of your home and marriage in this way sets the standard for the rest of your life.
I like what the following says about being a man worthy of being an elder. It certainly makes it seem like taking care of God's house requires that you can take care of your own first.
Titus 1:5-9
5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 An elder is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
There's feeding and walking the dog, mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, watering the garden, doing the laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, painting, and an incredible number of other projects that fill our married days. None of these things are in themselves difficult, but all of these tasks added together can seem daunting.
Each of these tasks can add a level of stress and frustration to marriage, especially if you argue over who does what or what equals 'acceptably clean'. There's a certain amount of honest communication that needs to take place to ensure these things get done. Unless those discussions are had and responsibilities are assigned in the appropriate way things will get messy and quickly. And nobody wants messy in their marriage - whether it's an emotional mess or an actual mess.
These always seem like such small, insignificant things, but here's the reality:
If you can't take care of the small stuff, then the big stuff gets additionally overwhelming and the stress of the small stuff makes the thought about the big stuff unbearable.
It's in attention to detail and the honest communication of expectations that the small things fall into place. This should be a pattern we follow in all parts of life. These actions refine your marriage and your self.
Taking the time to take care of your home and marriage in this way sets the standard for the rest of your life.
I like what the following says about being a man worthy of being an elder. It certainly makes it seem like taking care of God's house requires that you can take care of your own first.
Titus 1:5-9
5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 An elder is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
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