It's been a crazy few weeks. I'm sure many of you can relate. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, my lack of sleep, and the fact that our home looks like it was the battle site of WW3, I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
0 Comments
Landon loves soccer. He loves playing. He loves watching it. He loves dreaming about it. At home, we often find him (well, hear him..) playing with a ball in the house. He talks us into playing with him in the backyard, and we love using this time to enjoy time with one another but also help him grow as a player.
This fall, we finished our third season of soccer, and we came out as champs! He's getting ready to begin his indoor soccer for the winter, which should help him on improving his skills, but will also offer some exercise in his "off" season. We love watching him play and are thankful to be able to use this opportunity to help him grow as a person by teaching him how to be part of a team and how to be a leader. It's really been a blessing to see it all start to "click." As I've been thinking back on this past season, I've tried to apply it to my life. We live by "attitude & effort." It's all we ask of Landon when he's at practice, a game, or doing anything with his sport. It's what we ask of him at home, at school, and when we're with family. I'm sure this belief system stems from when my husband, Derek, coached basketball in the past, but ultimately, it lines up with scripture and our whole way of life. So why is it so hard to do it myself? I've begun to really take a hard look at my "attitude and effort," and let me tell you...it hasn't been a pretty sight. I don't give a good enough effort taking care of the things that the Lord has blessed me with. I notice my attitude turning negative when I should be finding joy in all circumstances. I find myself wanting, when God is only One that can fill any void. I can become irritable, when those around me should be given grace and patience. Whatever the case, there's definitely room for improvement. Sure, it's easy to be down and discouraged when life isn't going our way, but that's exactly when we must make the choice to live joyfully, knowing that the "sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) So let us choose joy and positive attitudes because you never know how much it might just help someone else. "No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit." - Helen Keller Blessings, Abby Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 4th anniversary. I know what you're thinking, "They must have it all figured out." Yeah, right. Don't worry, I'm not naive enough to believe you really think that. 4 years isn't very long compared to many couples we know, but it's been long enough to learn many things about each other and ourselves that we weren't aware of when we first wed. This isn't one of those times where I tell you how wonderful married life is and how it's the most fun and exciting thing I've ever been blessed with. That's all true, but I want to focus on one thing I've been convicted of at this point in our marriage. The one thing that the Lord keeps teaching me. I'm not giving my husband the best of me. The realization of this fact hit me after we had a silly argument over something I can't even recall at this point, which tells you how important it was. I was praying and feeling awfully convicted but didn't really know what exactly I was convicted of at that point. I just kept asking God to show me where I needed to be better...to show me where I had let the enemy gain some ground in my heart. He revealed this to me quite quickly! And I'm thankful He did. What does it mean to give someone the best of you? What I've been shown so far is that it means:
Wives, I urge you to ask yourself what you're giving to your marriage. A marriage is an intimate relationship where you are able to share special things with only one special person on this earth. What are you sharing with that special person? Is it discouragement, negativity, and complaining? Or are you fighting to give him kindness, humility, and unconditional love no matter the situation? We must be willing to give them the best of us if we ever hope to withstand the trials of this life and truly thrive in spite of them. "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3 "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." Romans 14:19 Much Love, ~Abby |
Author
I am a wife, mother, and Christ follower. Currently living in Lee's Summit, MO. Lover of sports, crafting, music, and writing. Archives
December 2015
|