Daily Devotional for March 9, 2021

Sunday, in the sermon, I asked all the married couples to raise their hands.  Laura immediately raised her hand but David only raised his hand high enough for me to see the tops of his fingers.  I still don’t know what that meant.

But the couple that really got my attention was Mike and Kathy.  They’ve been married since the beginning of time.  They raised a beautiful family and both of them proudly put their hands in the air.  If there was ever a couple that was made for each other, it’s them.

Then, as I continued to preach the greatest sermon in the history of sermons, I said, “Keep your hand up if your marriage has always been hugs, cotton candy, and joy.”

Mike proudly kept his hand high in the air but Kathy immediately dropped hers.  That got me thinking.

I wonder if Shannon would say being married to me is always hugs, cotton candy, and joy?

I don’t see why she wouldn’t.  I would love to be married to me.  That’s because I am the whole package – great personality, wonderful sense of humor, brilliant, devastatingly handsome, and I love God.  What’s not to like?  But then I started thinking.

I think, much like Kathy, Shannon would have dropped her hand.

That’s because, there are times when I am cranky, inattentive, narcissistic, and short tempered.  I’m not even sure I would want to be married to me.  Outside of my looks, what’s to like?

The bottom line is that none of us are as cool, hip, smart, caring, good looking, or tolerant as we think we are.  None of us is that good a catch.

So, if you too, like Mike and me, are infected with Tomitis, Paul’s words are for you: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”  (Romans 12:3)

Just know, no matter where you rank on the scales of life, God has chosen to love you, warts and all.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for the gracious people who love me in spite of myself.  Especially, thank you for loving me.  Help me to live my life bringing you joy.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Special note to all the married men out there:  If there is a woman out there that is foolish enough, blind enough, and crazy enough to love you, treat her like the miracle she is. 

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins