I received this in an email this morning and couldn't resist sharing!
It's funny how such a drastic change in the weather can really get you thinking sometimes. The heat has been so intense this week, yet we all have to continue on with our lives. I look around and everyone is making adjustments like carrying some water in the car, putting a towel over the steering wheel or even planning to do more things inside instead of being outside. Subjecting ourselves to the intense heat makes us very vulnerable and we naturally counter the uncontrollable temps with protection and placement. We pro-actively shield and avoid the situations that would put us at harms risk.
Don't we routinely feel a similar "heat" in the course of our marriages? Regardless of life season, it seems as though the next great spike in temperature is always just around the corner. When those marital temps begin to rise, do we instinctively and intentionally take steps to protect ourselves? This ought to be as natural as defending against the blazing sun. Are you moving your marriage to a cooler environment? Or is the vehicle of your marriage parked on the side of the road absorbing life's heat index? How do we respond naturally and instinctively for this change in temp? What are you doing to keep the life long love of your spouse protected, hydrated and shielded from these uncontrollable elements?
Just like we wouldn't subject ourselves to dangerous situations with the temperatures, we should not sit idly by and let our marriages be vulnerable to changes in life temperature. Be proactive. Be intentional. And remember we are never promised more than what is right now. Love and be gracious to your spouse every single day.
I think we can apply this to just about ANY relationship we're in be it spousal, sibling, parental or with friends. Have a great Thursday!
2 comments:
Wow, I love this metaphor. Being newly married, it really makes me realize that no matter what routine we are in or how good things are, we must continue to feed our relationships and work on communications. It is a life long journey just as it is with our relationship with Christ. Thanks for sharing this today.
This is a very good thought, but sometimes all of your best "cooling" efforts won't work unless the other side helps out. To use your heat metaphor, you can bring extra water in the car for your friend, but you can't make him drink it. I expect the next time I defuse a situation with my friends, I'll think something along the lines of "whew, missed a heat wave there."
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