Snow and Marriage

I heard today that February set a record for snowfall by 8 inches. That's a  lot of snow. So please allow me one last snow lesson. 



This snow shoveling experience differed from my last one in that my husband was around. He took care of the snow-blower, Praise The Lord! And I helped out with the walkway.


Now let me share a secret with you that I neglected to mention last time.

My husband and I have different ways of doing things. Can you relate?


Perhaps, like me, you've heard that if two people were the same, one of them would be unnecessary. Or that when two people get married, they make up for each other’s weaknesses. Makes sense. Right?

For example, I have a little problem with timeliness. My husband is rarely late. So the conventional wisdom is that God brought us together to help me be on time.


“Two are better than one....” A true statement, to be sure, but it was said by Solomon, the wisest -yet sometimes stupidest- man who ever lived. He had 300 wives, 700 concubines, and lots of marital issues, which led to spiritual issues. Hmmmm - we take marriage advice from this fellow?


You see, when you’re single, no one ever tells you that the areas where you are different are the points of CONFLICT, people. You don’t argue about things you agree on. So I'm throwing the conventional wisdom right out the window on that one.


Well, when it comes to clearing the pathway and front stairs, my husband and I differ. He clears it to make it FUNCTIONAL, shoveling a path 2 feet wide on the 6 foot wide steps. You can make it to the front door. Fine. It works. For him. Not for me. I prefer it to be completely cleared to look ATTRACTIVE. Now since he usually does the work while I’m inside making soup or hot chocolate, I don’t complain about it.


But, when I cleared the stairs myself 2 weeks ago, I did it my way. For days afterward, I was happy as a clam looking at the job I did. Steps completely cleared.

Fast forward to Friday morning. I stood, shovel in hand, ready to tackle the stairs and path. My husband sauntered over. With each step closer, I got a little hotter from the inside out. You know what I'm saying? Have I ever told you that mind-reading is one of my spiritual gifts? Since my husband, like most men (or so I’m told), is a “problem-solver,” he likes to advise me on the proper method of doing just about everything. (Even things I’m fairly proficient at, like cooking.) He just wants to help. I, however, take it as a negative commentary on how I do things. So as he approached me, I prepared my rebuttal, and he hadn’t even said anything yet. Can you relate?


(By the way, can you tell I’ve been watching Beth Moore DVD’s -
“Can anybody relate?”
“Ladies, you with me here?”
“Can I hear an amen?”)

Anyway...


As I waited for his “You should....,” I readied my response:
     “When you do it, you can do it your way.
      When I do it, I’ll do it my way.
      You want me to do something.
      But you want me to do it your way.”


Well, as those last words rumbled through the empty hallways of my brain, I felt that gentle prick of the Holy Spirit.


God wants me to do things for Him.
And He wants me to do them His way.


His ways are not our ways.
They’re better.
Better for Him, better for His kingdom, better for us, and better for me.


"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Is. 55:9

It’s not enough to do what He’s called me to do.
I need to do it His way.
Patiently.
Humbly.
Lovingly.
Joyfully.
Obediently.
Sacrificially.
Without resentment, anger, pride, irritation, complacency or humming "I did it my way."

Can I hear an Amen?

Susan