Frustrating Foibles
“Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
The great tragedies of life can undermine committed love, but so can minor frustrations. These daily irritants, when accumulated over time, may be even more threatening to a marriage than the catastrophic events that crash into our lives. And yes, there are times in every marriage when a husband and wife don’t like each other very much. There may be occasions when anger or disappointment takes the fun out of a relationship temporarily. Emotions are like that. They occasionally flatten out like an automobile tire with a nail in it. Riding on the rim is a pretty bumpy experience for everyone on board.
The next time you’re tempted to trade in your spouse, remember that divorce must never be considered an option for those who are committed to each other for life. Instead, determine to work on your points of friction and to accept the human frailties and faults in your spouse. He or she must accept an equal number of flaws in you as well. A covenant of commitment and acceptance is a powerful secret to lifelong love.
Just between us . . .
• What “daily irritant” between us is most frustrating to you?
• Have we gotten better or worse at handling everyday aggravations?
• How can we reduce frustrations in our marriage?
Dear God, You know how little irritations often cause pain in our marriage. As we humbly release these irritations to You, please heal us. Forgive us our pride. Anoint us with grace. Grow in us a love that’s stronger than any fault or foible. Amen.
Listen to today's broadcast of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk at OnePlace.com. For more from Dr. Dobson, visit the resource center at drjamesdobson.org.
This devotional is taken from Night Light for Couples. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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And a husband must not divorce his wife (1 Cor. 7:11). The distress young children experience after a divorce remains with them throughout their lives.
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When faced with the breakup of her parents’ marriage, a hurting teenager used the following word picture in this letter to her father.
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Even though you know you're guilty, you can't get the words out of your mouth.
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Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Prov. 20:6). This gentleman who so gently cared for his wife clearly understood the meaning of commitment.
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With so much confusion about the role of men in society, it’s no wonder we have questions about how to bring up boys in the right way. Why are so many young males in crisis? What qualities should we be instilling in our sons? The culture has vilified masculinity, and as a result, an entire generation of boys is growing up without a clear idea of what it means to be a man. To help parents confront this challenge, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute has developed a new 10-day email series based on Dr. Dobson’s best-selling book, Bringing Up Boys. It’s designed to equip you to wisely lead your sons to become godly men.