Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Love Dare - Day 27

Love Encourages
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up... encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14

Everyone has expectations. It's natural. However, unrealistic expectations on your spouse can be discouraging and damaging. When we choose to encourage our mate instead of be disappointed by our unrealistic expectations, our marriage can experience significant improvement.

What kind of demands are you putting our your wife/husband? Are they realistic? Do you expect your spouse to always be on time, understand all of your needs, clean up after dinner? If so, prepare yourself for a lifetime of disappointment. Your mate is human, forgetful and even thoughtless at times.

Instead of putting your spouse on the defensive and pushing him/her into rebellion, try kind words of encouragement. Instead of discouraging and frustrating your mate with selfish demands, try loving them for who they are instead of what they do.

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