Coffee Cups,Car Repairs, and Good Theology

“Older women…are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands…” Titus 2:3-4

Let’s make theology practical.
(I’m the ‘older woman’ & here’s my teaching: Love your husband. )

Here’s a down-to-earth idea on the ‘how’:
JON: Please do not read any further; it will ruin what I’d like to keep a surprise!

(Sorry, but my husband is an encouraging & faithful follower of my blog…I’m blessed!)

Pam Farrell writes a short, simple but creative & thought provoking book on 52 Ways to Wow your Husband.

Is there anyone that doesn’t need encouragement or occasional motivation in the same-old, day-to-day stuff of loving those closest to you, whom you likely take for granted, or who sometimes brings irritation or difficulty?
(Like a husband?!!!)

This book points a wife in the very theological direction of tangibly demonstrating your love for your husband.
One useful, realistic idea at a time.
And, as a bonus-at-no-extra-charge, throws in some free ‘heart watch’ considerations which hit the root of our affections as we live out marriage life.

See what I mean in IDEA #4: Coffee Cup Identity
(This one hit home with me, not because of the coffee, but of the heart issue of contentment versus complaining…)

She asks what day-to-day practice/habit reveals your husband’s identity. (Not spiritual character, etc, just a regular, human practice….her husband’s was drinking coffee.)

She explained how his consistent practice of leaving an empty coffee cup everywhere both defined him (as he LOVES coffee) but also irritated her (in its messiness). Early on in her marriage, God convicted her of her pettiness and she realized she had a choice. Each coffee cup could irritate her each time she found it left somewhere OR she could use it as chance to rejoice in her husband’s uniqueness and to bless him in it. Grabbing the second option, she decided to pray for her husband in gratitude each time she found a cup. Now, she reports, it is second nature to thank God each time she handles a cup he has used, and the irritation is a bygone memory.
She then challenged her readers to discover a specific quality of our husbands which ‘defines’ his identity and use it as a reminder to bless Him.

I don’t think she MEANT it had to irritate you, but in my own heart search, I came up with a convicting scenario.

You see, I often get impatient, discontent, & downright grumpy about the poor condition of our vehicles. I just don’t like the duck tape holding our vehicles together, the unfixed issues that both look sketchy and make me feel destitute.

And so every time I’m faced with this when I drive, I often do heart-battle with being content AND not ‘blaming’ my husband for not providing better vehicles. (You know, the ones I’d be proud to drive…PRIDE…now there is a fruit of godliness, huh?! ) And I know it’s not wrong to want a nice car, nor to have one, but if God gives you something else, coveting one that is different is just plain sinful).

I decided (with the Holy Spirit’s help and Pam Farrell’s example) to turn it into blessing.

Jon’s not a car repair guru, but he DOES work hard on the upkeep of the cars we have, and I know they are safe! God’s provided us with 3 vehicles & it is a huge blessing.

So, every time I face a duck-taped window control (if you put it down, it won’t go back up) or when I put my arm on the duck-taped arm rest, or when I have to pull hard to turn (couldn’t tell you what the deal is there!), I’ve chosen to replace my complaining with prayer.
First, thanksgiving for the husband He’s so graciously blessed me with, and then prayer for Jon specifically and the needs of his life.
(Ask me how I'm doing; I'm sure it will be an ongoing battle...)

Love My Husband in Tangible Ways. (Maybe, I’ll even WOW him?!)
But most importantly, I’m quite sure in this I’ll be pleasing Him.
And that’s good theology!