It’s Friday and the prompt for Five Minute Friday is: AGREE. We write for five minutes on the prompt that Kate Motaung gives. Sometimes I go over the time limit but I try to stay within five minutes.
Marriage provides the opportunity for personal growth, for learning how to work through disagreements. My husband and I agree on many things, but at times we have disagreements.
We have learned about the importance of listening to each other. We have come to appreciate our different perspectives. We are both being refined.
Here is a simple illustration. My technique for chopping walnuts has been to place the walnuts in a plastic bag and pound them with a rolling pin. Since my husband is now retired he is in the kitchen more often and was upset by the pounding.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m chopping walnuts.”
“Why are you doing it like that?”
“I have always done it like this. My mother chopped nuts like this.”
“The noise hurts my ears.”
“I’ll try to do it while you’re not around.”
Not long after my husband came home with a nut chopper—a glass jar with a plunger that has sharp blades. My immediate reaction was that I didn’t need it. But I have tried it out and I like it. I now chop walnuts with this nice device.
// My women’s Bible study is studying the book of Romans. We are now on chapter twelve and it includes wise instruction on relationships.
Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16
“We have learned about the importance of listening to each other. We have come to appreciate our different perspectives. We are both being refined.” Amen, Carol! It’s so important to really listen to each other. After 43 years of marriage, my husband and I still sometimes need to be reminded to really listen and not assume.
Blessings to you!
Gayl, thanks for visiting!
Isn’t it amazing how we can disagree on something as basic as how to chop nuts? I was just reading this morning in Lysa Terkeurst’s book “The Best Yes” about how marriage is the most fertile ground for needing to have a growth-mindset so the tiniest things don’t trip us up.
I love your line about the importance of listening to each other. Triple love it. Just think of what our world would look like if that always was our main goal!
It is funny some of the things we argue about. We should keep the big picture in mind–and being a good listener is helpful. Thanks for visiting, Stacy.