My very best to mine?

 Yep.  I LoVe to read!

A week ago I began another book.  This time as a challenge to myself.  The Love Dare.  Admittedly, I saw the movie (Fireproof) some time ago.  Although the content was worth seeing, I didn't really care much for the actual film.  It did provoke me to purchase the book.  And, it sat, and sat, and sat on my bookshelf.

I'm sure many people reach a point in their marriage where they get comfortable, or numb, or __________ (choose your own word).  I use the word reach because this place never is achieved overnight.  Here I was.  I never wanted my marriage to be here.  I had grand dreams of how this man that God had created just for me was going to make my life perfect.  I was going to be happy, and things were going to be easy, and my husband was going to adore me.  (It's okay, go ahead and laugh.)  Reaching a point where this was noticeably not the case, I had had many talks with my husband about this.  I felt something was missing, or had to change, or ___________ (again fill in the blank).  Those talks usually caused more problems.

Along comes DAY 5 of The Love Dare.  "Love is not rude"

I've heard Joyce Meyer talk before about how you could be arguing with your husband and if the doorbell rang, and you opened it to see your pastor, boy, wouldn't you be quick with a smile and a sweet, soft voice.  How true is this?  Why do we give our best to everyone outside our door?
I'm going to ask you to go back up to the last paragraph and see if you can spot what might be wrong with it.  (I'm not speaking about the punctuation or grammar.) 
Did you see it?  It was all about me.  Not a very big word, but potentially a very dangerous one.  Especially in a marriage!
Just Sunday this was addressed in our sermon.  "Where anger comes from."  During the entire service I was praying Jeremy was listening.  I was proud of myself for not nudging him at certain points.  The two main reasons why people are rude?  Ignorance and selfishness.  And, I'm all over that second one!  So, although I know a marriage includes two people, I know I only have control of one of them, myself. 
If things aren't as close to perfect as they can be when people are are involved, than I can change it.  If I'm not happy, I can change it.  And, if my husband doesn't adore me, there's a reason, and again, I can change it. 

When you begin dating someone, are you not on your best behavior?  Don't you want to impress that special someone that makes you all smiley inside?  Why does that change?  If you are kind when dating, you  should be kind every day.  Your spouse married you because of how you made them feel.  The person you married is one of the most special gifts, treat him/her that way every day.  If I continually try to show my husband how special he is to me, he in turn will start being excited to come home just to get a hug and kiss from his favorite cheerleader in life, and that... makes me happy! 

So, if any of you are up for a challenge and a whole lot of reflection, pick up a copy of The Love Dare.  And, let me know how things change for you.

Strong Woman vs. Woman of Strength

All of us are in a process.  I am in a process of becoming a Woman of Strength.  (Please be patient, God's not through with me yet.)

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything ...
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear...

This began fairly recently.  I read one single sentence in a book, and it forever changed the way I want to be.  (If you want to read an amazing, thought-provoking book pick up a copy of Napoleon Hill's "Outwitting the Devil.")  About half way down page 143 I stopped, reread the same sentence over three more times... "Children are forced to take on the nature of all influences of those around them unless their own thoughts are stronger than the influences."  Wow!  Right?

To make a long story extremely short, I will just say this...

I want to raise strong, godly, loving, confident independent thinkers.  During my childhood (although there were many good lessons) I did not have a personal example of the wife/mother/person that I would like to be for my family.  I know strength, confidence, love, etc. need to be sown into our children.  That lead me to ask questions like:  How do I learn what to say to encourage them, without inflating their ego?  Strengthen them, without withholding the nurturing?  Help them, without damaging their sense of independence?  Or, correct them when needed... what battles do you choose?  

Simply, I want to be my very best for them.  Since I am blessed to be a stay-at-home mommie ('cause I prefer this spelling) I am the largest influence our children currently have.  I don't want to experiment on my babies.  I know as they get older they will choose their own way.  I just want them to be prepared to be world-changers, if that's what they desire.  Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  I believe that has to start within the walls of your home.

I have been tremendously blessed in having relationships with women I consider "women of strength."  They are amazing examples of mothers, wives, and godly women.  So, I will continue to cultivate those relationships and others like them.  I will read, study, and pray... BUNCHES!  And... I will welcome the process of change, (although uncomfortable at times).

So ladies, here's to the journey!