“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Cor. 6:12 NIV)
Whoever God has given you to do life with daily are the relationships that take the most work. Words matter in relationships. Not everything needs said, not everything needs done.
For me, the relationship that takes the most work is with my husband. He is the one I live with daily. Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. I have grown more as a person since I married my husband than any other time. Marriage has taught me life isn’t all about me.
Early in our marriage, we were getting ready for bed. My husband was still in the bathroom, I was in bed writing in my journal. As he pulls back the covers to crawl in bed, he jostles me. Yes, the brat I am, said: “Can’t you see I’m writing? You jostled the bed. Be more careful” At that point, my husband broke my selfish bubble. He looked at me and said these words:
“This is not the Beth show. If I do everything you want it’s the Beth show. That show ended. It’s now the Ron and Beth show, we’re in this together. I can’t get in bed without “jostling” it.”
Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you more today than ever.
My husband uses words well. He knows when to say something, when not too. He also knows moderation. He teaches me every day. Relationships require moderation. In any relationship, we have the right to do or say anything, but that doesn’t mean we should.
When my husband reminded me the world didn’t revolve around me, he did it with the right words, at the right time. We are responsible for the words we say, the things we do:
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” (Matthew 12:36 NIV)
We are all accountable to God. In His grace and mercy, we learn moderation.
Ron was right, the Beth show had ended. Life wasn’t about me, it was about us. The life God gave us when He brought us together. God is the managing partner in our marriage. In Him we trust all things. Every day He gives us is a blessing. As we learn to trust Him more, moderation becomes a way of life for us.
Not everything needs said today. Not everything needs done today. Some things never need said or done. Each day with God, we learn moderation. As we follow His leading, we’ll know when to speak or do, when not too.
Live fully in moderation.
Question of the Day:
Are you living life in moderation?
Further Reading: Ezra 10 NIV, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 NIV, Psalm 31:9-18 NIV, Proverbs 21:3 NIV
