Thanksgiving Produces Joy ~ Chapter Four

Many women despise the story Debi tells of Michael taking the trash out, missing the garbage can, scattering garbage all over the place and then "continued on his merry way."* I encourage you to stop getting upset over some of Debi's stories because you don't like them. "He was a jerk to do this." "He is the one who should have cleaned it up." I have heard many women say these things to me and give reasons why Michael was wrong and how this was a dumb story. However, the point of the story was that she used to be irritated and bitter about something like this happening, but learned to simply accept him with his mistakes and love him any ways.

Haven't all of our husbands done stupid things? Haven't we done stupid things before? So what! None of us will be perfect until the day we see Jesus so until that wonderful day, don't allow the stupid things to cause you to be irritated and bitter! Don't allow a stupid story to cause you to miss the point of the story! Even children will do stupid things but they shouldn't cause us to lose our joy.

I never have a chip on my shoulder, no matter how offended I have a right to be - and I do have reasons to be offended regularly.* The Bible tells us that love doesn't get offended easily. We overlook other's faults, especially our husband, who we have vowed to love until death do us part. We learn to be patient with others and put up with their quirks. This is what love is all about!  Being offended easily takes away your joy. I used to get regularly offended at Ken. I felt like I was a ping pong ball all the time. If he was doing what I wanted him to do, I was happy. If he was not, I was unhappy. He felt like he had to walk on eggshells during this time. No one enjoys being around someone who is offended or irritated easily. No one, including the person who gets offended! Make up your mind to allow people to be who they are and not try to change them. Love them with all of their faults and allow God to  change them in His perfect timing. 

Somewhere over the years, having goodwill and a merry heart toward each other has become as natural as breathing...Live with thanksgiving, forgiveness, and joy, and enjoy all your moments as if they were your last. Someday, soon enough, they will be.* Life on this earth is short. You will NEVER be a thankful, forgiving and joyful person if you get offended easily and hold grudges. Let it go! Instead, use your short time on this earth to love and serve others. Don't wait until you've been married a long time to appreciate your husband. Appreciate him now! Keep your mind on the good and the pure. Be satisfied with what the Lord has blessed you with. Allow your husband the opportunity to enjoy living with you!

Every day you have a choice; to be thankful and joyful or not. Choose to be a wife that your husband loves being with, a mother your children love being with and who finds joy and thankfulness a way of life.

No Greater Joy just had a great sale on this book and I would love to give three of them to any of you who don't have this book yet because you can't afford it. If you would like to receive one, leave a comment and tell me how this study has changed your marriage so far. I LOVE hearing testimonies of marriages changing for the good as the wife begins to live out her calling as God has commanded her. I will choose three women and let you know who I chose on next Monday's post!

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, 

and declare His works with rejoicing.

Psalm 107:22

***Please feel free to write quotes that touched you in the comment section or questions and insights you may have!

*Quotes taken from the book.