Relationships

I'm going to let you in on what's been on my heart the past couple of days. Relationships. None of them are perfect, most of them are severely flawed, some get by with God's grace, some appear to be better than they really are, and some, few, are actually healthy. Over the past few years I've noticed something about myself, (I've finally achieved an ounce of maturity-haha!) I've noticed that I find it easier to think about other people's problems, than it is to think about my own. In Matthew 7, Jesus talks about being judgmental, and he asks a humorous question: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye, and pay no attention to the plank in your own?

Do I do that? Do you?

Well, I guess one way to tell is to ask yourself, "What do I need to work on in this relationship?" and then ask, "What does my spouse need to work on?" If your list for your spouse is bigger...there's a problem, and you probably ought to really start asking yourself what you can do better, and forget about your list for your spouse!

If you're like me, you are realizing you are guilty! You too are a hypocrite. It's not okay, but it is normal. Why do we do that? Why do our other peoples' short comings get more of our attention than our very own short comings? Is it because we are too ashamed of our own actions to face them? Is it because it's hard to be honest with ourselves? Does it help us feel a little better about ourselves to pick other people apart? Ooh, here's an interesting thought, could it be that there are demons that point out every flaw of people around us, so that we're too busy worrying about other people to have the time to deal with ourselves? Wow, maybe the enemy is more crafty than we realize...I mean if almost everyone was busy judging someone, then nearly all relationships would be dysfunctional, and to find someone who actually realizes how wicked they are, would be a rarity. Everyone would be too proud, divorce would be far more common than commitment, love would be lost, hope would be lost, and everyone would want prozac! (This is starting to sound a little too real).

God, let me be humble, and work on that plank in my own eye. This is a fallen, twisted world, and relationships here are a joke without You. My relationships would be complete failures if it weren't for You. Help me Lord to see the areas in my life where I can do better, and give me the strength to do it. This world has enough judgmental people in it, don't let Your people be that way too. Don't let me be that way. Instead, let me sympathize with the weaknesses of my loved ones, and pray for them. When I see someone making mistakes, remind me of how I have done the same, and help me to love them. God, You alone can change the world, but thanks for choosing to do it through us, Your people. Your ways are beautiful, give us a healthy lust for your work.