How can love be kind in this busy, noisy, stress-filled world we live in? Life is busy – there’s lots to fit in, isn’t there? Maybe we’re a bit brusque – abrupt, short-tempered, or terse with those we love. Maybe. Sometimes. Not because we don’t love our husbands or wives but because…
How often do you consider your spouse, and decide to be kind? Why?
Because Love is Kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Kindness starts with the basics like a genuine “thank you”… but there’s more.
Love is Kind – without condition.
What would kindness – without prerequisite or condition – look like in a marriage?
- smiling at your spouse – even if you don’t feel like it
- offering to serve your spouse – to meet a need – even if you haven’t been served
- giving your best to your spouse – before anyone else
- refraining from an action because it might cause pain or concern
- remaining neutral when your spouse needs a sounding board, even if you have an opinion
As a real-life illustration, one of our friends has come up with a brilliant way to be kind to his wife (and family).
He loved to watch sports, and became intensely involved in the action on the television. He cheered – loudly and with gusto – when events were in his team’s favor. That was OK. However, when things didn’t go well – or the opposing team or a referee didn’t behave the way he felt they should – his reaction became fierce. And thunderous.
This extreme behavior became a divisive problem for he and his wife. How did he solve it?
He now records each game. Once it’s recorded, he checks the score, and can prepare himself ahead of time to watch with discretion. Or not watch the game at all…
Is this a sacrifice? Does this spoil the “fun” of being surprised at a game’s outcome? Perhaps. However, this isn’t a problem in their household anymore. His kindness – without condition – is showing his wife how much he loves her.
There are more ways to be kind, I’m sure.
(leave a comment – share your ideas and experiences!)
Something special for Wednesday…
On Wednesday there’s going to be a special guest post here on Encourage Your Spouse!
I’m excited to have Amy from Accidental Happy Baker share a post about an ongoing daydream she and her husband entertained when things became stressful and tough… and the experience they had when they pursued that daydream.
She also has a recipe to share to go with this story – because she believes every recipe has a story, every favorite dish a tale, that our taste-buds have the ability to take us back in time to our most beloved memories or to places we’ve never gotten yet, but only dreamt about.
And I’m just giving you a heads’ up – the photos from her recipe are going to make you drool!
See you Wednesday!
How are you – or your spouse – kind?
Leave a comment!
These are wonderful points and suggestions, especially the one about serving even if YOU haven’t been served. That’s a hard one, but a good one. I always say that marriage is 100/100 (not 50/50), but there are some times in a marriage when one person is struggling perhaps with a lot of stress, an illness, depression, a family issue, and they just can’t give quite as much as usual. But that’s when we, the other spouse, need to step up our game and meet them where they are and give that little extra to love them through their struggle.
Agreed, Melanie! The whole 100/100 is a perfect way to start every day – but every day isn’t the same as the next!
In February I shifted oddly, and my knee was damaged. My mobility was severely impacted and all of a sudden Rob was doing much more than his 100 percent. It took almost six weeks (with a cane) before I was back to almost normal, and during that time he shouldered so much more than we both wanted him to! (As we travel full-time in our truck and 5th wheel, you can imagine the awkwardness and hurdles.) Yes. There are times when we need to serve our spouse, even if it’s inconvenient, or we’d prefer not to!
Thanks for stopping in, and commenting!
Such true words – and your timely suggestions can make all the difference in the world! Blessings!
Thanks, Clare – and thank you for stopping in!
I’m grateful.