be the person you want to be married to

For you married folks, how many times a day do you complain about things that your wife/husband does or doesn't do.  If you are like me, it seems that I get upset many times about things that I wish my husband would/woudn't do-be more romantic, do things without being asked, plan a date night, pick up his shoes...this list could go on. And I'm sure he has a list about things that he'd wish I'd do too.

Today in my quiet time I reflected on my marriage as I looked back on some notes from a sermon Gregg Matte, pastor at First Baptist Houston, talked about marriage.  I read Genesis 24-the story of Issac & Rebekah.  Abraham, Issac's father, sends his servant out to find Issac a wife.  Pastor Gregg talked about how marriage is the most important relationship on earth (Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:31-33), because it models what a church & Christ relationship should look like.

Then there were two key points in my notes that really hit home with me today.  #1 Do you remember when you were single and how you longed to be married?  I do, as ladies, we think about our future husbands and wedding day from the time we are little girls.  I remember dressing up in my mom's wedding dress and thinking about the man I would one day marry.  I also remember praying for the man that would one day become my husband.  And I'll never forget the day that I met my husband and knew that he was different.  I knew he'd be the one I'd married, although I wasn't truly convinced on our first date.  I recall all the time we spent together before we were married talking about how much we loved one another and what life would be like once we were married. We both knew that we were perfect for one another. But after the butterflies go away & the honeymoon is over, during the hustle of our daily lives, we sometimes forget the reasons why we married our spouse.  It's so easy to think of their faults, instead of focusing on the positive things about them.  For me, I forget to thank my husband for working so hard so I get to be a stay at home mom; he's faithful, loving, provider, my best friend, supporter, a listening ear, and a wonderful father.

The second point that really made me stop and think was BE THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE MARRIED TO.  WOW!  I focus on all the things I'd like to change or wish that my husband would do, but I need to be looking at myself.  Do I do the things I want him to do?  No, I know I don't, and why not?  I need to work at being the best wife I can be and being someone that I would want to be married to.  "Wives submit to your husbands, as it is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh on them." -Colossians 3:18-19  So they way I see it, I need to submit myself to my husband, love him, and not be harsh on him, because I need to be the person I would want to be married to-that's my focus this week.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." -Colossians 3:23  I ask that you pray that I work at being a better wife for my husband, and for me to focus on the positive things about him instead of looking at the negative things.  I ask the Lord to help me be the person I want to be married to.

Matt-I know I don't tell you enough, but I love and appreciate you more than you'll ever know.  Thank you for working so hard to provide for us, for being my best friend, being faithful, and loving me no matter what, and being an amazing father.  I know I'm stubborn and sometimes hard to live with, but as Eric Church says, "When it comes to lovin' me you make it look so easy."  I love you!