Thursday's Child

Last night we went out to eat.. again.. This is the second time I have tried to get the servers to sing Happy Birthday to my husband and the second time that they have forgot. :( I guess I will give up.

While we were at dinner though the girls were writing on their kids menus and one of them (no names) wrote John a note.. They call him Johnny Test because of the cartoon, ok, here is what it said. Hello Johnny Testicles.. Hahaha... She had no idea what that meant.. so we had to explain it to her.. It was funny.

So these Love dares I have been doing come from Fireproof. It's a movie that you can watch on youtube. I haven't watched it. I'm going to tomorrow. There is a Love Dare book too. My friend had just be sending me the Dares. I am having a hard time with Day 6. I don't really understand the journal part but I am going to do my best.

Day 6

"Love is not irritable"

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. -Proverbs 16:32

Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. How easily do you get irritated and offended? Some people have the motto, “Never pass up an opportunity to get upset with your spouse.” When something goes wrong, they quickly take full advantage of it by expressing how hurt or frustrated they are. But this is the opposite reaction to love.

If you are walking under the influence of love, you will be a joy, not a jerk. Ask yourself, “Am I a calming breeze, or a storm waiting to happen?”

Love will lead you to forgive instead of holding a grudge. To be grateful instead of greedy. To be content rather than rushing into more debt. Love encourages you to be happy when someone else succeeds rather than lying wake at night in envy. Love says “share the inheritance” rather than “fight with your relatives.” It reminds you to prioritize your family rather than sacrifice them for a promotion at work. In each decision, love ultimately lowers your stress and helps you release the venom that can build up inside. It then sets up your heart to respond to your spouse with patience and encouragement rather than anger and exasperation.

TODAY'S DARE

Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Ok, the problem I was having was with the word margin. I didn't understand the context. 

Here is the definition: margin: allowance; a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits; leeway, tolerance  

So my way of understanding is where in my life could I be more tolerant and not just jump to being irritated. 

I always do my best to have a clear conscience towards God and men. -Acts 24:16

Questions:

Where do you need to add margin to your life? 

1. Husband- We all probably all could be a little more tolerant with our husbands.. I have been working on this one and I have really been trying not to use negative words when talking to him or at all. I'm trying to get him to work on this as well.. but it's a little harder for him. :)

2. The kids- I do lose my patience with the girls.. when I ask them to do things.. and then ask again.. and again.. by then I'm mad.

3. Friends, mainly one or two- It's true sometimes I take people for granted and let my emotions get the best of me and jump down people's throat or just ignore them altogether.

4.Driving- Road Rage. The end. I'm always in a hurry.

5. Family- I have a low tolerance when it comes to certain family members.

When have you recently overreacted? 

I haven't gone into detail about this, but I have posted about my drama with my friend. I think I might have overreacted.. a little ;)

What was your real motivation behind it?  

It honestly just started out as an opinion, then something got taken out of context, then my feelings got hurt, so I got mad and went on the attack.. My motivation might have been to hurt her back, I should have just let it go and ignore it.. but my feelings got the best of me. 

I have found these online so if you are interested let me know and I will send you the website.