Knowing What Not To Say

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11

Honesty and good communication are the foundation stones for a healthy relationship. This is particularly so in marriage. But any good idea can be misused. For example, it’s honest to tell your spouse that you don’t like the way they cook. It’s honest for you to express anger over your spouse’s shortcomings. But honesty that does not have the best interest of the other person at heart is cruel, and a form of selfishness. This is especially so when the other person can’t do anything about it. Some couples, in their determination to share every thought and opinion, destroy the sweet spark of romance that drew them together. No longer is there any sense of magic. They’ve unraveled the romantic allure that first attracted them to one another. Your spouse is the person you chose to marry. So if you didn’t do your homework up front, don’t complain when you don’t like the test results. Peter writes, ‘Continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins’ (1 Peter 4:8). Paul writes: ‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When you practice these virtues, you can help improve your marriage.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me have discernment in what it is I say. In Jesus’ Name, Amen