“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
My husband and I are very different people. We grew up very differently in very different environments. We see people and the world differently. He’s ever the cynic and prepares for the worst, and I trust to a fault and hope for the best. We react to things very differently. He’s very logical and black and white, and I’m very emotional and see a lot of gray. We have different interests and likes. He could live off fish and vegetables, and I won’t touch either of them. I hate the outdoors and would rather be inside watching sports, and he loves nature and couldn’t care less about sports. He wants a clean house and minimal stuff around, and I’m always leaving messes and hoard books and puzzles.
On paper, we should not work, but we do. We love each other, respect each other, and listen to each other. Our differences have ensured issues over the years though. It hasn’t always been easy, but there’s no one else I would ever want by my side. My mom always told me in any conflict ask yourself, “how can I respond with love?” That advice has helped me to communicate with and better understand my husband. Sure, there’s still times when I shout or want to just strangle him, like I’m sure he wants to do to me, too. During those times though, I take a breath, calm down, leave the room for a bit if I need to, and ask myself how to respond to him with love. There’s been many times in the middle of a fight when I just go hug him, and we just hold each other and regroup. Just being in his arms reminds me how much I love that man. That love suddenly feels so much greater than any little thing we were arguing over. There are things we never agree on, but we are still able to work together for a resolution that we can both live with because we respect each other.
I think a very important part of love is acceptance of the other. Yes, we are very different, but we love and accept the other as they are. That’s what unconditional love is. That’s the kind of love God has for us. It doesn’t matter that we are so different from God. It doesn’t matter that we mess up from time to time or get angry with Him. He accepts us as we are and loves us still. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) Love your spouse as God loves you. Show them the same acceptance, forgiveness, and grace that He shows us. Issues are always going to come up in a marriage, but if you respond with love and kindness, your relationship can overcome the differences.
(submitted by Melissa)
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