- Photo by Amber Cox -
Sheila and I get asked about our marriage from time to time. People wonder how we schedule our time, prioritize our goals, resolve conflict, achieve intimacy, deal with our adult children and manage our money. I get lots of questions, which I assume arise from a desire to know what helps a marriage...and what doesn't. I don't mind the questions, even though I don't answer all of them. (You'd be surprised to learn what some folks ask about. Zow. If I was in 1st Grade back in the 50's, I'd tell 'em, "None of your bees-wax.")
I recently made a request of Sheila. I thought I'd tell you what I asked her to do for me, even though I'll probably never tell you the details of her final response.
I asked, "What do you want me to achieve in the next ten years?"
I asked, "What would you be celebrating, if your deepest prayers for me were answered, and ten years from now you were able to say, 'My hope for you has been realized. You were successful in accomplishing the thing I most hoped you would. I prayed the LORD would give you this success, and He did!' Looking back ten years from now, what did I accomplish that made your heart sing?"
I told her, "I want to honor you. I want to serve you well. Take a few days and think about your answer. What do you want me to accomplish? What success do you want for me?"
You'll probably never be privy to Sheila's answer, but I will, and whatever she tells me will help me more than you know.
1 Corinthians 7:33 - Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse.
Mark- I love this question. I shared it with the Day Camp team. We're thinking about how we can use it in our ministry as well. Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by: April Gann | February 18, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Thanks for sharing! Marriage for sure is very hard work but oh so worth it! My husband Josh and I are going through the Dave Ramsey course and we were on session two this week. It was so funny because he talks about his kids and what it was like "being Dave Ramsey's kid!" Isn't it interesting how people watch and want to know what it's like to be so and so's kids/wife. One thing I do remember you preaching on and now at 32 wish that I would have implemented was the 10/10/80 plan! You preached about what my parents didn't talk about. Keep doing it! Blessings, Jenny Cobb Johnson
Posted by: Jenny Johnson | February 18, 2011 at 09:18 PM