November 22, 2019

Rerun Daily Devotional November 29, 2016

Last week, Shannon decided to go through the long process of making homemade chicken tamales. I decided it was my job to supervise. It didn’t go well. And even after a few days, I am still not exactly sure what the problem was.

I told her how to cook the peppers. I offered very helpful advice on what ingredients were needed to make the chicken taste just right. I even went so far as to tell her how much chicken stock needed to be used in the masa. What more could she have wanted? And yet, while she didn’t come out and say it, her body language told me she did not appreciate my expertise. I wonder why?

Have you ever met someone who is completely unaware of themselves? These are the sorts of people who say and do things that make other people mad and then wonder what the other person’s problem is. That’s me.

I think the only reason I am still married is because Shannon, even though I continually give her outstanding advice on tamales and everything else, understands the requirements of love.

This is how Paul puts it: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

It is the part about patience and enduring that may best describe the necessary attributes of being married to me.

Sooner or later you are going to run into someone who irritates the tar out of you. It happens to everyone. And when you suddenly find yourself with someone who tells you how to make tamales, invest your money, whether you are wearing too much makeup, how to eat right, how to exercise, how to drive, how to parent, how to vote, how to worship, or what you should do for a career; ask yourself what God would want.

This is the pastoral advice I can give: Suck it up, be a Christian, and love them even though you don’t want to. That’s what God wants.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, in those times when I meet people I don’t necessarily like, help me to remember that there are times when you probably don’t like the way I act, speak, or think. But you choose to love me anyways. Help me to do the same. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Love really is the key to a happy and fulfilled life. I promise.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins