The Martyr's Contest
"We will not compare ourselves... as if one... were better and another worse." Galatians 5:26 TM
Does this sound familiar? "You think your day was tough? I dealt with thirty customers before lunch!" It's easy to get sucked into "The Martyr's Contest," where your problems are worse than everybody else's. And if you're not careful, it can creep into your home. Alicia Howe writes: "At day's end when workplace frustrations are fresh and domestic tasks are looming, the setting is ripe... Spouses who desperately need each other to recognize their efforts, battle it out for the title of hardest-working person... We have a fundamental need for recognition from our spouses, and if we don't get it, we devise strategies to evoke it." The problem is, when we compare ourselves we can damage our relationship. So with that in mind: (1) Be alert for unspoken pleas for encouragement. When your mate expresses frustration, don't counter with one-upmanship. Jesus said, "Listen... if you have ears!" (Mark 4:9 GNT). What your mate needs is assurance that they can handle the problem. (2) Express appreciation often. Envision your mate wearing a sign that says, 'Appreciate me!' The fact that society is inclined to assign gender-specific roles doesn't give you the right to take your partner for granted. (3) Reinforce your spouse's efforts to help. Don't criticize the way they fold laundry or rake the yard. When you do, you guarantee they won't try to do it again. Think of a four-pronged fork. (a) Be respectful of one another's work. (b) Recognize that while your jobs are different, they can both be difficult. (c) Be sensitive, and flexible enough to help when it's not 'your job' or 'your turn.' (d) Outlaw the complaint, "I'm tired." It's counter-productive, and chances are you are both tired of hearing it!
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
Does this sound familiar? "You think your day was tough? I dealt with thirty customers before lunch!" It's easy to get sucked into "The Martyr's Contest," where your problems are worse than everybody else's. And if you're not careful, it can creep into your home. Alicia Howe writes: "At day's end when workplace frustrations are fresh and domestic tasks are looming, the setting is ripe... Spouses who desperately need each other to recognize their efforts, battle it out for the title of hardest-working person... We have a fundamental need for recognition from our spouses, and if we don't get it, we devise strategies to evoke it." The problem is, when we compare ourselves we can damage our relationship. So with that in mind: (1) Be alert for unspoken pleas for encouragement. When your mate expresses frustration, don't counter with one-upmanship. Jesus said, "Listen... if you have ears!" (Mark 4:9 GNT). What your mate needs is assurance that they can handle the problem. (2) Express appreciation often. Envision your mate wearing a sign that says, 'Appreciate me!' The fact that society is inclined to assign gender-specific roles doesn't give you the right to take your partner for granted. (3) Reinforce your spouse's efforts to help. Don't criticize the way they fold laundry or rake the yard. When you do, you guarantee they won't try to do it again. Think of a four-pronged fork. (a) Be respectful of one another's work. (b) Recognize that while your jobs are different, they can both be difficult. (c) Be sensitive, and flexible enough to help when it's not 'your job' or 'your turn.' (d) Outlaw the complaint, "I'm tired." It's counter-productive, and chances are you are both tired of hearing it!
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
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February
Practice Saying No To YourselfThe Best Is Yet To ComeThe Grandfather's Mistake Became The Grandson's MiracleHow To Conquer The Fear Of FailingLet's Respect Our DifferencesPass It On To OthersThrow It DownYou Are Called To Be Salt And LightExpect To "Wrestle"Use Your Gifts In Ministry To OthersKeep Trusting GodFear Is The Enemy Of GrowthChange Your RoutineYou Are Not Beyond God's ReachDon't Look At Christians, Look At ChristHave A God PerspectiveGod Uses Damaged PeopleUnderstanding The Word "Imputed"Governed By Christ's Love For UsToday Expect God's FavorGrowth Is About EnlargementKeep Praying And BelievingRefuse To Wear The LabelShake It Off, And Move ForwardWhen Others "Don't Get It"Righteousness Is A Gift, Not A Reward
March
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