Giving the Advantage

Hey dudes, 


Hope life is well.  I just wanted to share a little bit of what i was praying about this morning concerning love, and specifically God's love in marriage.  I was thinking about how when we show the love of God, it's designed to give the advantage to the object of our affection (as my Pastor has been teaching us recently).  So if that's the case, then our ability to give the advantage to another person is totally dependent on our willingness to figure out what the other person needs/wants and be receptive to their desires.  


That seems like a tough task, particularly for a husband who's notoriously known for not being a mind reader.  Yet, it's probably a difficult task for anyone without the Holy Spirit's help.  I can't tell you how many times I've probably missed the ball because of my inability to listen to what my wife is saying, and then do something about it.  And that's what I think giving the advantage comes down to.  If you're really concerned about the other person, motivated by their well-being, then you'll learn how to listen when they talk and you'll learn how to discern the cues they give you when they express their needs/desires.  


It's a growing process (learning how to love correctly) certainly, but it's one that has tremendous rewards (as I've experienced and been told).  Sometimes it does require one of us learning how to take the first step, be the bigger man, all that good stuff.  But what a better relationship we have when at least one of us, and then both of us in marriage are finally focused on giving the other person the advantage all the time.  Get that image in your mind, forgive your wife for whatever you're mad at her about, and start working towards that goal.  Be blessed!


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