~DAY 17~Love promotes intimacy~
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. —Proverbs 17: 9 NIV
Who are you the closest to in life? With whom do you share your secrets? It may be a good friend you’ve known since childhood or college. It may be a sibling, parent, or coworker. But nothing rivals the closeness that can be experienced between a husband and wife. Marriage is designed to be the most intimate of all human relationships— emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Marriage should be a safe haven. A protective embrace. A promise to help each other deal with all the struggles, the baggage, the negative or embarrassing things we all experience. A place where we are free to make mistakes without fear of rejection.
Whenever your spouse shares something personal with you - they do not need to be nagged, lectured, or criticized. They need to be heard. They need support. They need acceptance. We should love our spouse- as one imperfect person to another - offering understanding, grace, acceptance, and safety.
Whenever your spouse shares something personal with you - they do not need to be nagged, lectured, or criticized. They need to be heard. They need support. They need acceptance. We should love our spouse- as one imperfect person to another - offering understanding, grace, acceptance, and safety.
~~TODAY'S DARE~~
DETERMINE TO GUARD YOUR MATE'S SECRETS (UNLESS THEY ARE HARMFUL TO THEM OR TO YOU) AND PRAY FOR THEM. TALK WITH YOUR SPOUSE AND RESOLVE TO DEMONSTRATE LOVE IN SPITE OF THESE ISSUES. REALLY LISTEN TO THEM WHEN THEY SHARE PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND STRUGGLES WITH YOUR. MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE.
Given that the safer people feel , the more they open up, what does this say about your marriage in the past?
How hard is it for you to listen and hold back from saying something, critical or otherwise?
What have you learned about your spouse today, simply from listening?
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