One of my favorite bloggers is Georgie from Decisionally Challenged...she is witty and smart! While reading her blog recently I discovered she had seen the movie Fireproof and the movie story line touched her. I, too had seen the movie...some of the acting is very poor including some cheesy dialogue but it's story about a young marriage and it's near failure. It moved me to tears because I have had some difficult times in my marriage.
I have had to work hard at my marriage and my Hubby even harder...I envy those who seem to easily get along and seem to have it all together...we certainly have never been that couple!
But...we still have a deep and faithful loving commitment to one another and I think that shows even when we struggle. Georgie asked if anyone else wanted to take The Love Dare with her, this is the companion book to the movie that is referenced in the story line. I said "Sure!" I mean, I am 50 and we have been married for over 30 years...surely the hard part is behind me!
Well, the dare is difficult...because if you do it correctly...it will effect all your relationships...because it is changing you and how you think about love! It's a 40 day challenge and I am on it!
I wanted to share one incident that happened to me:
This isn't about my relationship to my Husband but to a restaurant employee...yeah, it effects all relationships! I have been praying that I might be a blessing to others and then coupled with this book/dare...well, I reacted differently than I might have.
I took my daughter, daughter-in-my-heart and my two wonderful grand children out to lunch...we were all lined up in a line at the counter. My daughter had ordered, along with my grandchildren, myself and my daughter-in-my-heart! I was trying to tell the employee that I wanted to pay for ours...this woman wasn't listening! When I finally got her to listen...I could tell she wasn't hearing me! So...the food arrived and my daughter-in-my-heart who was talking to someone in line that she knew from church walked up and said "Well, that's it, right?"
This woman snapped at my daughter-in-my-heart and was dismissive to her! I was annoyed immediately!
The fact was my daughter-in-my-heart was right...that was our order! The young lady had not listened to me when I said there were three of us...she added the young lady's order my daughter-in-law was talking to with ours! Plus...I had already paid for it! I stood there for a moment while this young clerk thought this out!
My first inclination was to point it all out to her...that she hadn't listened to either of us and that I didn't care for the way she had dismissed my daughter-in-law! But...I thought about my dare and so I smiled and said "No...that is okay!" and I asked the young lady if she would join us for lunch and she did! The employee said "I can fix this!" and I smiled and said "No...I would like to do this!" "Thank you and have a good day!" and I smiled and she smiled back!
I was not annoyed any longer...I did not carry any frustration with me!
Because....I wanted to show love that day and I had prayed to be a blessing to others...and God gave me the opportunity!
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
12 comments:
What a great lesson for all of us. I am trying to work on this right now as well. So far - so good!
I wish I could be as nonreactive as you. I try very hard...and I know I am getting a lot of tests the past week. Sadly I think I failed one. Something at work which might result in the loss of my job. A young man I said no to, has been giving me some problems and causing friction for me. When I confronted him he said that he is loved and no one will believe me. When I complained about his behavior, I was not met with support. If I had not reacted and complained I would not be in this position. Your story is inspiring and hopefully I have not messed myself up at this job and I can think about your story during my days and keep myself in check more often.
We just saw that movie a couple of weeks ago and loved it! (Cheesy acting and everything .... after the first 10 minutes or so to get used to it anyway!! lol) We now have The Note here and waiting to be watched tomorrow night.
After watching Fireproof, I immediately went online thinking that I wanted to do the The Love Dare. Sign me up!!!!
Oh, and Lauren, I hope it isn't as bad as it may seem right now. Maybe the weekend will cool some jets?
That's gotta feel good!
You don't know the kind of people I work with. When they make up their mind, that's it. Not an office job and not most emotionally intelligent people. But I hope you are right!
I am sorry Lauren...please try not to let your heart be troubled! I am sending you love!
This is an inspiring story. You did good! I´m sure I wouldn´t have held my mouth...
I would love to hear some of the troubles you have had during your marraige and what has helped you to overcome them, sometime. Because I am in the same situation. I have been married 28 years and it´s not the smooth sailing as we would like. Still not!! We are in this for life, but it seems we still need to learn a lot. Especially now that we have an empty nest...
I need to watch that movie, I think. I over react at times.
Nice one! I've experienced that a few times myself -- where I yield a little, am a a little more patient, more generous than normal, and reap huge rewards.
At the risk of sounding reptitious, you're such a great role model!
I try every day to take a deep breath and remember that sometimes people are distracted, or they're busy, or they're just plain not as smart as I am!
It's so hard to take a deep breath and act in kindness. But you did it and it's inspiring!
what a story.. and what a peaceful way to have lunch. your family is blessed is have you :)
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