Sock Problems


          Being married has made me more sensitive to my own behavior. Or maybe I am just more receptive in seeing the negative in myself separated from my old environment. I don't know. But I see things in myself that I don't like and it is interesting going back through my childhood and seeing when I developed that trait and why. I have always found origins in behavior fascinating. 

         Anyway! My point for today is quite simple. The way you treat your siblings will in fact carry over to your married life. My mother always tried to warn us children about that but we never thought it to be true. Besides, a spouse could never act like a sibling or get on our nerves, right? (haha) For me one of the behaviors that carried over is my defensiveness. 

          My husband is a very frank person. He says things like they are, which at times I really appreciate. I always know exactly how he feels about everything. But sometimes I mistake his frankness with accusations somehow incriminating me with his missing socks etc. I realized that I hate to be blamed for things going wrong or missing or whatever (my family I am sure is nodding in agreement). I know I have had this behavior for a while with my siblings because there is always someone to blame in a big family. For example when my husband would question me (several times) about his missing socks I would reply with great emphasis on not knowing where the socks are. (and maybe he should look where he left them last etc.) He would look at me inquisitively and ask what the big deal is? Why do I overreact?  I then calm down and realize that he is not accusing me of hiding his precious socks. The fact is, the way he asks me reminds me of my siblings and different situations which evoke a past reaction. 

        Each day Christ shows me my great need for Him and His mercy in my life. He reveals to me there is no good thing in me except for His spirit! The things in our past good or bad will effect our present relationships in ways we can't predict. I think that any great event in your life that evokes emotional stress or elation will come back in various ways through different people and situations. The two ways to ovoid the negatives from creeping back is to deal with them correctly in the first place (seeking God to deal with your heart). If you missed that opportunity to hand it over to God most likely God will present you with another opportunity to get rid of any baggage later. As in my situation I had to apologize to my husband for being so defensive and ask God to create in me a humble spirit. 

          I hope this is encouraging to anyone single or waiting to get married. The way you treat the ones closest to you will shadow how your treat your new spouse (good or bad).
 Live purposely for the past, the present and the future. God bless you all today!