Tag! You're it! Making the Most of the Moments

Some seasons in life are difficult.

No question.

No rebuttal.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiates 3:1-8

When the “time” you and your spouse are in,

includes …

death

being uprooted

being torn down

weeping

mourning

scattered stones

nothing to embrace

giving up

searching

throwing away

tearing

hating

and even war…

How can you encourage each other?

Even when dealing with all the opposites to planting and healing and building and dancing and laughing… It’s still possible to encourage each other.

It is. Really.

How?

Focus on the moments.

Force yourself to acknowledge the beauty and blessings in that specific moment.

Then find a way to take note –

and pass the bounty of God’s gift of that moment on to your spouse.

As great as pointing out the positive to your spouse can be… sometimes he or she doesn’t hear the words. (wha-wha-wha)

It can take a new tactic,

technique

or a challenge to engage each other.

Tag – You’re IT!

Make it a challenge to notice the blessings in the moment! Engage each other.

Use something tangible to “tag” your spouse…

Idea One / if you’re not together during the day:

with a smart-phone camera
take turns sending each other photos of the bits of beauty found in the moment
Or text each other uplifting quotes.
Use a point system – see who “wins”.

(but of course, you’re both winners, because you’re encouraging each other.)

Idea Two /when you’re spending the day together:

Start with 10 dimes – each. (20 in total)
Mark all 20 in some way. (with nail polish or permanent marker)
When you notice something – a blessing, a beauty, a bounty – tell your spouse about it and hand her/him a dime
Have your spouse do the same with you – but no two “noticings” can be the same.
The one with the least number of dimes at the end of the day… wins!

(and yet again – you’re both winners, because you’ve spent the day looking for the good in the moment – and shared!)