Trust in God and In Your Spouse!

The Story of Norma Rae and the Power of Words

In my previous post, I mentioned my husband calling me 'Norma Rae'. My husband and I are married twenty-five years. That is quite an accomplishment in today's world. A lot of people want to know the secret of a long and joyful marriage. For one, I ponder every word that proceeds from husband's mouth. There is always a lesson and God has used Ty to sanctify, cleanse, teach and make me a better wife, mother, sister, friend and Christian. Don't get me wrong, I don't always like it, walk around skipping and analyzing...it is more subtle than that but it is deliberate.

Ty knows me, loves me and prays for me. His comment about Norma Rae came from a place of concern. He knows my special gift to weep with those who weep and defend the fatherless and weak! He has seen me run to their aid and has held me as I cried for sufferers; he also protects me from predators who use me for wicked purposes or selfish gain--not my gift to detect this in people. My gift is to write, love and translate passion into words on the page and pray that you get a blessing!

His gift, of discernment, let's him understand how this wicked world works and how we can apply God's Word as salve to soothe and heal us. He is suited to protect, not only me and his family but the greater innocents. Mommy (my beloved friend and mother-in-law) and me chatted many times about how God gave him that gift and requires him to use it for the greater world in which he stood. God created him, not me and therefore, I pray to have an unselfish heart and to appreciate Ty's concern for others--and I do appreciate it.

'His shoulders are broad and his wisdom goes deep' is how I describe him as a person (not in wifey-mode, but person to person). Those of you who know him understand what I mean. Mommy questioned his unshakable focus at times; she worried if he could let the burdens off and relax. He can and he does, trust me! I truly love Ty to the core, the marrow, and I know he is one of many people who Jesus sent to rescue me and help me grow, blossom and fly into the butterfly God envisioned at my creation. Just like Mommy's gift to make you feel you were the most important person in her life; Ty gives everyone the confidence that 'this too shall pass' and that everything will be alright--even in the face of tragedy, disaster, triumph and mundaneness. HOPE

So those words were said in love for a wife, love for his sister in Christ and guidance from the Holy Spirit to protect me from evil-doers and teach me to trust in the Lord with all my heart! I choose to receive them in love, I choose to find the challenge to grow, change, trust. My heart and mind have softened over the years and my mind has expanded as Christ renews me.

No secret to marriage, just five simple guidelines as stated in God's Word:

1. Jesus is first in our lives, He is the Head in our individual hearts and He is the head as we cleave together in one flesh.
2. Spouse is second. When we come together as one flesh, our bodies are not our own but given to each other to love, to please, to care for and therefore, we put our spouse above our needs as Christ put the Church above His own physical and emotional needs.
3. Remember you are One Flesh. Decisions, power, choices, and disappointments must be shared but ultimately, there needs to be one answer. The husband is the head of the household and his answer prevails in a tie! He's the CEO, I am the COO. With that comes all the responsibilities and ACCOUNTABILITY!
4. Your children are gifts temporarily. They will leave you at some point in their lives and become one flesh with another. Train them, love them, teach them, encourage them. Them let them go make their own choices. Pray for them daily but remember guide #2, spouse comes before children!
5. Never forget that life is fleeting on this earth and that believers will reunite as brothers and sisters in Christ. We've suffered many losses and disappointments in twenty-five years; together we have mourned, weeped, gotten angry, forgiven, rejoiced, been bored, been ecstatic, clung together, fell apart but through it all--we find each other's hand and grab hold. We forgive, get up and trust each other.

When in doubt, read God's Word and check your log before you remove the speck in your spouses eye! For love covers a multitude of sins and we were sent to build up, not tear down. They will know us by our love for each other. It works every time. Love with passion and forgive with ease and hold nothing against your brother but in prayer lift him up to God who has the power to change, to cleanse, to sancitfy, Sister Lisa