Good evening! For the next 14 days, I will be on a mission trip to Vietnam. During that time, I will have new blogs each night from guest authors! (Also, on many nights, I will post pictures from my trip here!) For the next 26 evenings, my spot will be filled by my dear sister in Christ, Trina Agee Cornell! Trina and I went through many mission trips together and I have been a guest in Trina's and her husband, Bob's home. Please keep me in your prayers!
Power of Positivity #3
I enjoy communicating with my family and friends through social media – especially Facebook. I follow a number of people and organizations that focus their efforts on spreading positivity to the masses. I love reading posts from Proverbs 31 Ministries, tobymac, Lysa TerKeurst (the founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries) – and Power of Positivity. I came across this organization through a friend of mine – I noticed that she shared posts from them on a regular basis, and I decided I would “like” the page and check it out for myself. Power of Positivity has spoken to me on a number of levels – the Lord allows just the right one to cross my path when it is most needed. I wanted to focus this series of blog posts on the posts that have resonated with me – and the lessons that I have learned from them.
“The best thing to spend your relationship on is time, conversation, understanding, and honesty.”
Bob and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary this past June. Some days, it does not feel like any time has passed. Other days, it feels like we have been married for years. Bob wrote our vows that we spoke to each other that day – in them, we shared that we would be there for each other, through the “hills and valleys, ups and downs” and everything in between. Marriage is work – it takes the efforts of both parties to make it the best it can be. It is work – but it some of the best work we will ever do. The time we invest in our marriage further solidifies it as a the foundation of our family – and serves as an example for our son.
One of the best things we can invest in our relationship is time. Quality time is one of my love languages – it means a great deal to me when someone spends time with me. With a toddler running around our house, time together runs at a premium. Bob and I have made much more of an effort to date each other – we take at least two nights a month where we get ourselves out of our elements. We find someone to watch our son, and we spend time together outside of the everyday schedule. Shaking things up like this reminds us of the time we spent before children – and allows us to reconnect in a positive way.
Conversation is key to any relationship – especially within a marriage. Bob and I have seen the importance of this first hand – we both want to feel like we are heard when we speak. At times, we get drowned out with schedules, work, and toddler life – and communication becomes regimented. I have a tendency to hold my thoughts and emotions inside of me – with everything else going on, I do not want to feel like a burden to anyone. I have since learned that Bob is my safe place – he is my best friend, and I know I can share anything with him, without fear of judgment or repercussion.
Understanding and honesty go hand in hand – as they fortify the foundation of a relationship. There has to be a mutual understanding – and a certain premium placed on the truth – in order for a relationship to function and thrive. Each person needs to feel like they are heard and understood – they need to feel like they contribute, that they are part of things. Not only do both parties need to be honest with each other, they need to be honest with themselves. They need to take a good, hard look at themselves – and step into the man or woman that the Lord created them to be. When they live their lives honestly – and authentically – it further strengthens the relationship in powerful ways.
These aspects of a relationship also apply to the connection we have with our Lord. The Lord wants us to spend time with Him every day – in the study of His Word. He also desires conversation with us through prayer – the Lord knows what is on our hearts, but He wants us to share it with Him ourselves. He also desires that we understand who He Is – the almighty King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega – and the list goes on and on. Above all, the Lord wants us to be honest with Him – and honest with ourselves. He knows our hearts – He knows what we think and feel. He wants us to show up in our lives – and to be the people He created us to be. The Lord sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16) – He did this because He wants a relationship with you. He wants to connect – will you let Him connect with you?
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at shawley@westburychristian.org
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