Who would have guessed that the deepest, richest Hollywood love story in years would feature a flying house, a computerized dog, and an obnoxious kid? Pixar made a beautiful animated feature film with a tender portrayal of forever love between Carl and Ellie in the movie UP. This is what we learned from that movie:
1. True Love can last a lifetime
2. To love is to keep promises, no matter how long you take to fulfill them.
3. And lastly, true love is hard to find. When you have found it, take good care of it while you still have time.
How do you get a love that lasts a lifetime like Carl and Ellie? The Bible says...
Love… always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
– 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV
To have love that lasts, you need a love that always protects. It's a love that doesn't expose - it covers and gives grace. Over the next 3 weeks we will look at 3 times you need to extend grace and cover for your spouse.
Part 1: When their flaws or faults irritate you.
I know the one thing that irritates Dave is my snoring. Come to think of it, I also flip the bed sheets. Did I mention that I have a noise machine that helps me sleep?... and I turn in my sleep... and I have to go to the bathroom during the night. :)
Dave could dwell on those flaws or irritations or choose to extend grace - to be critical or gracious; picky or patient. Grace has to be the foundation of every single relationship. I could do the same to him or be gracious. No one is perfect. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love forgets mistakes. Nagging about them parts the best of friends.”
Nagging doesn’t work. It never has worked. It doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work at church, it doesn’t work in marriage. It doesn’t work with your kids. Nagging doesn’t work anywhere or anytime!
Being critical of someone’s faults or flaws never changes them. But it does change the nagger – it makes them into a person no one wants to be around. If you are dwelling on another person’s flaws, you are not humble or extending grace. If you are critical of other people’s faults you are not extending grace. Our flaws and faults are always seen by God – yet he covers over it. We need to turn and do the same. So the next time your spouse does something that irritates you - give them grace. Choose a love that covers instead.
NEXT WEEK: Part 2 - When their words or actions hurt you.
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