Waking before 5 a.m. to the sound of gusting wind and pounding rain wasn’t quite how I wanted to start my day. But while I was awake I lay there fretting a little over how this storm would affect all the beautiful veggies and flowers I had planted yesterday. Feeling uncomfortable, I realized I had to “go” so I got up. My next move (haha no pun intended… sorry, I’m just gross like that) was to turn on the patio light and try to see what was going on in the backyard. The new wind chime was moving crazily, so fast that the tune was lost in the loud drops of rain hitting the window pane. My insides were a little twisted thinking of all that hard work and money hubs and I put into our little “Garden of Eden.” I stood there straining to see out, telling myself If this storm beats it all to death, there is literally nothing I can do about it at this point. I hadn’t listened to the forecast before I planted, I didn’t want to know. So, now that it hit I will pray, hope and began my morning routine.
Conflict in marriage can often be much like a thunder storm. Hurts, unresolved issues and differences start slowly before rolling in with a crash, bang and drenching. We may feel it brewing, but we don’t want to know so we ignore the warning signs. We just want marriage to be what we expect and when it isn’t we stuff emotions, put on a good front but ignore the fact that we keep repeating the behaviors that are brewing up the storm. We want to believe that what happens to other marriages won’t happen to ours, but along the way we put very little effort into making our relationship sturdy, strong and bendable. We tend to create our own storm when we take each other for granted, harbor bitterness and refuse to offer forgiveness. We break beneath the wind and downpour instead of holding on tight, holding each other up until it passes. Unlike a garden in a storm where there is little you can do to prevent damage, a lot can be done to prevent and save a stormy marriage.

What’s your marital forecast.… are you ignoring the warnings? Do you take your spouse and relationship for granted? Are you tired of putting up a good front?
Join me… as we tune-in and pay attention to the warnings and do all we can to prevent destruction.
Lord, marriages are being hit hard with a torrential down pouring; we look to you our Creator for our firm foundation and ask for healing and strength to withstand the storm. In Jesus name Amen.