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| What I've Learned from Marriage |
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Today my husband and I celebrate 27 years of married life! I've been thinking about that accomplishment, about all that has changed with time. We are not the same people we were when we stood on the banks of the Brazos River at sundown and pledged our lives to one another beneath the shade of a sprawling pecan tree. With about 300 friends looking on...we made a commitment that we have never broken.
The bible says: 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Reflecting on this scripture reminds me of the importance my countenance before my husband. Am I 'a good thing' who brings the favor of the Lord upon my husband? The truth is...not always. But I try to be. In order to keep my home in order before God, I am required to be 'a good thing' first to my husband, and then comes the church and the rest of the world. If I don't have balance in my home, I will not have it anywhere. If I can't be effective at home, I can't be effective anywhere.
I obtain favor from the Lord when my husband obtains favor.
I guard my lips from speaking unwisely or unfairly about my husband. Even when I am not very happy with his attitude or his actions or his decisions...it's not my place to vent those frustrations in an unkind way to anyone. According to God, my place is to be 'a good thing' on my husband's worst day...through his difficult trials, and even in the midst of attitudes and actions that make me angry. Did I learn this overnight? No...I've had 27 years of practice.
I've learned that: 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Peace in my home is important to me. I can choose to keep God's harmony flowing around me. I don't have to be opinionated, I don't have to win, I don't have to make him see things my way right away. My greatest weapon is meekness in the midst of battle. I can be quiet, I can listen, I can speak reasonably without anger...I can diffuse anything quickly and effectively when I choose the right words, kind words, wise words, loving words, soft words.
For a woman, the art of becoming beautiful is not in the clothes we wear, the glamour make over or that trendy chic hairstyle. The impact of our beauty rests soley on what passes through our lips. 21:9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
What I've learned from marriage is that God wrote a really good book for women. It's a wonderful manual for every wife who wants to learn how to properly operate the Husband God has given her. There's no button pushing required--just read the handbook. Funny thing about that--as you learn from the 'how to' book on Husbands, you become the woman God created you to be.
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| To add a comment to "What I've Learned from Marriage" |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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| This is so great, Birdie! Thanks so much for sharing with us all that you have learned, and congratulations on your 27th year of marriage! |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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| CONGRATULATIONS!! 27 years is a long time to go through life together. Beauty if fading and charm is deceitful but the woman that fears the Lord shall be praised. So I praise you today and your marriage covenant speaks of your covenant with the Lord and becaue you love Him and are faithful to Him, He enables you to love an imperfect man too. What a blessing and congratualations again! Good for you! |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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CONGRATS!!! How beautiful....
xoxo |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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| How beautiful Birdie. :) Congrats as well. |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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Thanks to all of you! Brother Todd--I have been blessed with the most wonderful husband! It was me that needed to learn how to bring out the very best in him! To do that, I had to change quite a bit over the years...like I said, 27 years of practice. lol! |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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| Congratulations Birdie - Thank you for your testimony and the Word. It is a breath of fresh air these days. I pray that you and your husband spend many, many more Holy Spirit filled years on this planet together, in the name of Jesus Christ. |
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| October 03, 2008 |
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| Thanks for your sweet words of blessing and encouragement ihsallthetime! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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| Congratulations on your anniversary! Jim and I just celebrated 25 years. You give great advice, and it is something that married people should pay attention to! |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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27 years... I'm smiling for the two you. Birdie, you always teach me something. I'll try not brawl so much. 21:9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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| Birdie I love your marriage testimonial. It is a wonderful picture of what I think a real and good marriage is. the experiences you go through together, help perfect and refine the both of u..and a man and his wife each have their part...it would be great if the older women taught the younger women...in churches today. God bless you with another 27 years of marriage. |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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| hahaha! Joey--*sister secret*: if the brawling ends in long, meaningful hugs and deep gazes that let you know you've traveled a little farther into each others soul--the house is no longer wide...it's small and perfectly cozy. :) |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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Joyful Servant; You are so right! A fruitful marriage is only the good that we produce together--and to do that there is a lot of give and take involved. Taking a posture of humility when you really don't want to...allowing each other to grow spiritually is so important.
I think that is the true test of selflessness for a woman...when we step back and allow GOD to breathe life and wisdom into our mate...without trying to add our two cents to the equation...He can speak in much better ways and we reap the benefits! We learn to to wait upon Him...keeping our fingers out of it...and we reap peace and integrity...we become that 'good thing' our husbands desire.
Thank you for your precious blessing! |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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| deep gazes ?? Birdie, I'm tickled because we would start laughing if we did that !!! We need help. LoL.... you're the best! |
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| October 07, 2008 |
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| Oh...Joey...Gazing deeply until you find yourselves enveloped in silly laughter is the hallmark of true romance! I don't think you need any help at all...but if you do... a few round of thumb wars in a small house is better than brawling in a wide house! (and much more satisfying to the competitive spirit. lol!) |
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