Got a Difficult Marriage? Here’s Hope…
“Those are pretty flowers. Who are they for?” he asked.
“Me. I had a horrible week and no one noticed, so I bought them for myself to cheer me up – they were the cheap ones at the grocery, so no worries, okay?” she responded.
Silence.
She knew he just didn’t know what to say. It was okay.
She had thanked God for the jobs that provided and the knowledge that her husband wouldn’t mind if she spent $7 on herself this way.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think of that,” he said, frowning.
“No problem. I didn’t expect you to, and it’s not exactly something cool to ask for,” she replied calmly.
She knew he was processing. He probably hadn’t remembered that long ago, she loved getting flowers.
She knew he remembered now.
Later…
An email arrived, suggesting their tween girl sleep on the floor on a trip since the bed and breakfast didn’t have accommodations for all of them in the same room.
She knew he didn’t realize their daughter would feel slighted and that the experience would be demeaning to her. She knew he did not realize his little girl was growing up, and as her mom, she knew their daughter would not be thrilled with “camping” on the floor. Her brothers were much too old for that, as well.
Hmm…what to do?
Father?
James 1:19 again, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to become angry.”
Proverbs 31:12 also, “She brings him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
Ephesians 4:24 last, “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Hmm…all precious to God.
Righteous judgment taught her that her while husband did not know the right thing here, it would also be also just as wrong of her to be condemning in her communication.
She no longer felt condemnation, anyway, but compassion toward a smart man who struggled to deeply connect and communicate how much he loved those around him.
The “old her” knew she could react with anger at the insensitive nature of the question he posed.
The “new her” knew that most men simply lacked empathy and needed to learn it. She certainly had her own opportunities for growth in many areas.
The “new her” also knew this was an opportunity to be a help to her husband and sons, calling them to a higher standard.
So she replied, “I know you have thought through this extensively, and I appreciate all the trip-planning you are doing! I’m sure it is a lot of work with lots to consider. I remember the days when our little girl really enjoyed those “camping” experiences. I remember the boys loving it when they were younger, too. I miss those days, don’t you? We sure had a lot of fun! What you probably aren’t aware of is that she is in a growth period emotionally, where she is figuring out her identity in stronger, teenager-type ways, and I think we are past the days where her sleeping on the floor would be acceptable. It is likely she would view our asking her to do that now as demeaning, and I see an opportunity for the gentlemen in our family to rise to the occasion to communicate value to her, by not making her be the one to sleep on the floor.” (emphasis mine)
She hit “send.”
Discussion ensued later at home. He agreed and they discussed options.
She knew that years before, without her track record of respect and submission, argument and sarcastic retort would have ruled the day – for both of them. But she had hung in there for over a decade of hard lessons learned and mutual respect prevailed in their relationship.
Thank you, Father.
…
Dare you to dig deeply daily into God’s Word such that His voice is louder than the others. Dare you to read Proverbs daily, growing in wisdom and maturity as you continue to age.
Dare you to refuse to believe the lies that “respect” and “submission” mean becoming a doormat, invisible and even more alone than you are now in your marriage.
You are your husband’s equal. Yes, if you can’t agree, choose submission, and be mature enough to choose your battles wisely, and don’t be a chatty woman with an opinion on everything, running off at the mouth all the time.
Know that the above is just a place on someone’s journey. Dare you to believe that place is possible for you – where you allow God to take care of your needs when others miss the opportunity, and where you are mature and healthy in the relationships you have.
Think strength and dignity.
And listen and obey His Word. It will change everything.
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But don’t give up on your marriage because you’ve “tried everything” and it hasn’t “worked.”
I’ll bet you don’t have your identity wrapped up in Jesus Christ’s opinion of you, and “strength and dignity” while doing “respect and submission” are foreign concepts to you. If you are like most of us, myself included, you’ve gotten in God’s way of working with your husband by not focusing on your own obedience. Stop doing that! Join us and start figuring this out – it’s where life abundant is.
Spend the next ten years being schooled with us in relationships. There’s plenty of room and we’re glad you are here. It’s a journey paved with tears, but totally worth it because there’s peace, joy, comfort and contentment in the middle and on the other side. Don’t give up just because things are hard. They’re supposed to be.
Love to you,
~Nina
I am interested in this concept but it sounds like a list of impossible to dos. I already put enough on myself in relationships that I am so overwhelmed. I need a better picture of how this looks with flesh on in the midst of so much pain and expectations I always feel like I fail.
Aly Sha –
So sorry things are hard for you right now!! And you are right – you shouldn’t put things on yourself – instead just live, moment to moment, listening to God, growing in Him, and He will direct your steps. The Respect Dare gives a good look in the flesh of how to apply what we’re discussing.
Love to you,
Nina
Beautifully said 🙂
Thank you for continued encouragement and tough love when needed.
I really love the point you made about this being a journey. Just like yesterday, when you were looking for Titus 2 women to step out and share, we’re all at different parts of our journey. It depends on how long you’ve been working at it, how long you’ve been married, and a lot of other factors along the way. But I love the journey. Thanks for this.
Annette, I think it is the same reason a man should give an open seat to a woman on the bus or hold the door open … It isn’t that the daughter isn’t capable of sleeping on the floor, but it communicates that she is valuable and treasured, especially in the early teen years. As the youngest in my family, I can remember being asked to sleep on chairs in hotels or on the floor of our family minivan. I would have felt so loved and treasured if my brother gave me his bed! Being asked to sleep on the floor made me feel like I was an afterthought, which I experienced quite a bit as the youngest child.
Nina, I have to share my journey that I am still on and struggle with the “old” me resurfacing. I have been seperated for 5 years but God has called me to stand for the healing of my marriage and pray for his salvation. The first thing God showed me was my disrespect toward my husband over the previous 13 years. Our loving father has changed me but I still struggle with all this because I see no change in him. But God is so good…he has guided me every step of the way, provides for all our needs, and allows me to be kissed by Him with many blessings. He is faithful and will fulfilled all His promises. I never want to be the woman I was and thank God tor loving me so much that he showed me. Blessings to you, Sally
I love the concept of communicating value and worth. So many times fathers inadvertently teach their daughters that they are not the most valuable princess in the world – so they go looking for the affirmation somewhere else. Or, even worse, they begin to believe that they are less. The wife’s ability to communicate that clearly, without judgement, saved that situation. Great example.
Hi, I just want to know why does. It seams so wrong for the girl to sleep on the floor ??