The 1st day of the challenge was of course the most difficult for me. The challenge? Resolve to say nothing negative about your spouse today. (Eph. 4:2)
I'm sad to say it, but that's about as challenging for me as placing a bar of chocolate in front of me and telling me not to eat it. It can be completely irresistible and satisfying at times!
As in all relationships, there are differing views about how to do everything. The perfect example of this was the first big argument we had after getting married. The issue? Where to store the bread in the kitchen.
Yes, I'm serious.
How can that be an issue? Let me tell you...
I was raised putting bread in the bread box until that got converted into my mom's catch-all in the kitchen. Then the bread was moved to the microwave to be off the counter so it wasn't in the way of food prep. Brent was raised leaving the bread on the counter.
A few days into our marriage the bread storage became an issue. Brent was tired of taking out the bread every time he wanted to use the microwave, and I didn't like it sitting out on the small countertop. The fight ended with me in tears and us totally shocked and amazed at how the other was raised.
Back to the present now. The challenge for Day #1 was especially hard for me because of our differing views on how to discipline Train Lover.
I had resolved not to say anything negative to Brent that day, so instead of the usual demands from me to 'do it my way' or 'stop!', I kept my mouth shut and bit my tongue often. It was really difficult for me. But I noticed a change throughout the day. Brent's way of handling Train Lover became less mean (what I view his disciplining as) as the day progressed.
God gave me a tender mercy for biting my tongue all day. At the end of the day Brent came up to me looking a little bummed and he told me he didn't like how he had handled getting after Train Lover and said he was going to try and be better.
I was able to sleep that night with a little less sore tongue because of those words.
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