Simply Thanking Each Other

Marriage is always in need of some service, because we need to keep it running smoothly. Just like we get our vehicles serviced regularly with oil changes and the like, we must put effort into our marriage.  When we don't do regular maintenance on our vehicles and marriages, they don't run well. Oh, it may seem like all is good, running on auto-pilot, but one day, it is bound to break down, and that can be COSTLY. I don't want to get too heavy here, I just want to make a simple suggestion, call it a "minor investment"  in your marriage, something you can do regularly. 

We all yearn to feel appreciated, and, let's face it, we don't get a whole lot of that "feeling" throughout our days. Encourage your spouse with words of thanks, DAILY. JUST grab their hand (we are big fans of hand holding), look them in the eye and say thank you for__________. 

Wait, you wouldn't know what in the world to say? Well, here's a few suggestions to get you started, and I promise, the more you practice, the easier it becomes:

-Thank you for making me proud to call you the mother/father of our children. 

-Thank you for being my best friend, my lover, my safe place. You are truly a blessing from God.

-Thank you for working so hard for our family and taking care of us.

-Thank you for the little things, fixing something around the house, making my coffee in the morning, letting me watch my favorite show, team, etc. (because the little things really are BIG things).

- Thank you for loving me and respecting me. 

- Thank you for wanting me.

- Thank you for dreaming with me.

Thank them, tell them what you love about them, encourage them. I could go on and on, but I won't. May I just encourage you to start today, START RIGHT NOW! If you can't grab their hand at this moment, call them, send them a text, FaceTime them. And then do it again tomorrow. 

"I thank my God upon every rememberance of you," Philippians 1:3

Now for the challenge:

Your mission, if you choose to accept it:

For the next week, DAILY find one thing to thank your spouse for.  It can be something small or big, but it doesn't have to be a deed, it can be an attribute.  It can be general or specific.  It can be anything.  

We'd love to hear what you are thankful about in regards to your spouse and we'd love to your what your spouse is thankful to you for.  Keep us posted!

Much Love and God Bless from Team Gage!

Asking Him to be Someone He's Not . . . .

Last night I re-posted my favorite movie quote of all time:  

"I can't ask him to be less than he is."

~ Maria von Trapp (Sound of Music)

I am sure most of you are familiar with the story line, and while we live in a different time and place, the premise of why it was said SHOULD still ring true in marriages today.

Years ago, when I first posted this movie quote (after only watching this movie a million times over the course of my life), I still did not fully appreciate the example of Maria von Trapp.  But I did admire the respect she showed for her husband in that pivotal moment in history.  Captain von Trapp was not willing to compromise his beliefs.  Maria was asked to convince her husband to "at least pretend to work with" the Nazi regime, something she knew her husband was against. And while he wasn't the only one who felt this way, he was one of the few who wouldn't bow down to it.  It may have made him unpopular in society's eyes, but in his wife's eyes, he was most popular (and truly that is what our husband's yearn for).  And in turn, her support encouraged him to LEAD his family to safety. They were a team.

You see, SOMETIMES we try and make our husbands into something, or rather someone, they are not.  SOMETIMES our husbands have to stand up against what may be popular, but not necessarily right.  SOMETIMES it's not pretty. SOMETIMES they don't act in a way that we would in the same situation, but ALWAYS we must still show them our support, which,  they in turn, see as respect.  In order to let our husbands develop into the men that God intends, we have to let them be who they are and nothing less.

I have learned many lessons in 21+ years of marriage, too many to mention here, but over time, God willing,  I can share more.  One thing I have realized: my husband  will be held accountable for his actions, what I will be held accountable for is whether or not I supported my husband, whether I truly let him lead Team Gage.  I  have to remind myself to let God lead my husband, so that he in turn can lead me.

A final thought: 

What if Maria, had not supported her husband, what if she had not given him the respect a husband so desperately needs and longs for? Would he have had the confidence to lead his family to safety and a better life?  I shudder to think back on all the blessings I may have held my family back from, because I refused to let my husband be who he is, to respect him and let him lead.

To those who understand this, thank you for your ensample (living example) . To those, who, like me, it took awhile, I ask you to give it a go, step out into what may be the unknown  with your husband and let him be all that he is . . . it's a happier life and a relief to not feel like you have to be the one in control. 

Today, what a wonderful time to start. May your marriage be blessed sooner than later as you, daily, let him lead.

Much Love.

I'm the Light of the World?

Let your light so shine! - Matthew 5:16 

I just saw a commercial on TV that was talking about how amazing the human eye is in that it can see a single candle at over 176 football fields away.  Think about that...If I light a candle and hold it in my hand, and you walk away to the distance of 176 football fields, then stop and catch your breath, get a glass of water and perhaps a snack, you could then turn around and see the light that I lit over 10 miles away!

The human eye is Amazing!  But let's not focus on that right now.  Think about how amazing it is that just a little light, a single candle can dispel darkness in such a way that it can be recognized so far away.

Now take that a step further.  Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world."  And usually at this point I look at myself, and sheepishly say, "Am I?" I can't possibly be the light to the entire world, can I?  I mean that is a lot of responsibility for a guy who can barely keep his shirt stain free during a meal.  The light of the world, me?  

The problem for most of us is this, we don't FEEL like the light of the world.  To which I say, "just because you don't feel it doesn't make it untrue."  Do you want to argue with Jesus?  He said it, not me.  So if I am the light of the world, then what does that mean?  What am I supposed to do?  That's easy...Just be that candle out there in the darkness.  The one that can be seen from miles away.  Let your light so shine!  In other words, be that ENSAMPLE that the world needs to see.  Try getting back to 'please' and 'thank you', try starting with a little smile for those around you, try finding the good in others, and looking for kind words to say, try making today a brighter place for those around you.  For how long you ask?  Try doing it today, just today.  We'll deal with tomorrow when it comes.  And remember, people from as far away as ten miles can see your light...further if you're on Facebook...

Join us today, as we let our light so shine.  And remember, "you can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you!"