Perfect Harmony~

Good morning! Finally--some sunshiny weather:)

 

One of you dear and precious souls wrote to me asking why I am such a fan of marriage. First, thank you for noticing, and second, it's because there is no other institution on earth that will contribute to our personal growth, maturity, and happiness like having a spouse and/or children will.

 

Maybe some of us don't think personal growth, maturity, and happiness are important, but let's face it--do any of us really want our kids hanging around the house until they are 40? Sleeping in until 1PM? Yelling at us and making demands?

 

Sure, they could live with someone without being married, but do a simple Google search and ask, "Does living together lead to marriage or long-term relationships," and article after article will confirm that no, no way, nope, sorry, ain't gonna happen...

 

Colossians 3:12-14 says, "Put on then, as God's holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other...and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

 

I love that we are God's beloved. And I love that we have a choice as to what we will wear. But what I love the most is that choosing how we will dress will directly impact the quality of our lives. Putting on love leads to perfect harmony, or as another version of the Bible states, "Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly."

 

Love ties everything together perfectly--how perfectly wonderful! And while this verse if for everyone--marrieds and singles alike--those of us who are married, know that the day-in day-out of living in a committed relationship will push our buttons like nothing else on the planet. It brings out the best and worst in us, which makes it the ideal setting for us to practice all the virtues in the verse above.

 

Why bother? You may be asking. Because again, the promise in the verse is that when done right it leads to perfect harmony. I want this for myself and my kids. And I want it for you too.

 

Are you kidding me? I can't wait for my kids to have kids themselves so they can then come running to me with teary eyes and apologize for the stuff they did, like sneak out of school in the trunk of a friend's car every day for a semester or set fire to the terrace, and then profusely thank me for keeping my cool when they deserved for me to throw shoes at them. ( I may have done this once or twice.) But honestly, over the years I learned (I am still learning) to keep my judgments to myself for the greater goal of living in peace.

 

It's the circle of life, and we should embrace it. Start asking God now to send your child or to send to you a suitable companion. One who will embrace the truth contained in today's verse. One who will purposely be compassionate, kind, humble, patient, forgiving, and above all else, loving. Sorry, folks, but anything else other than that is being mean, angry, unforgiving, proud, and hateful. And that, as I am fond of saying, is highly unacceptable.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Perfect harmony sounds great, and if You are saying it's possible, then we are on board. Help us to "dress" this way so that we attract someone who clearly understands that if we practice what we preach, then they better as well. In Jesus' name, AMEN~