Day 6- Love is Not Cranky Er Irritable

You know you've been there. You're husband is complaining about something and you are instantly defensive. He may even have a relevant complaint or problem but you are already so high strung that the smallest comment sends you into a ranting lunatic.

I'm the one in the back raising my hand. This chapter asks: Are you a calm breeze in your home or a storm waiting to release it's torrential wind and rain down upon your spouse?

More often than not I have been the backbuilding tornado just waiting for an optimal place to land. Why is that? Because my husband should understand what I go through in a day! Because he shouldn't complain that  there isn't any clean underwear or that I threw together some spaghetti at the very last minute because I just had too much to do!!!

I have the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else. So why does my "to-do" list NEVER get finished unless it is something I truly desire to do? Because I spend the day trying to do the things I want to do and not what needs to be done. The things that need to be completed to take care of my family fall by the wayside and I end up re-acting instead of being proactive. This results at being irritable most of the time and resentful of being asked why basic things are not completed.

In short, I AM SELFISH. This is a very hard thing for me to admit. I stay stressed 90% of the time because I choose to watch a television show or sleep in or take a nap or read a book instead of taking care of what needs to be done now to head off any complaints or shortages.

This chapter attacked something that I would rather not admit. It pointed out something that brought home it's not the kids fault for complaining about when is lunch. It's not hubby's fault that he is upset that he has to step over a pile of laundry in the bathroom because I haven't "had time to do it". In all honesty if I sit down and plan out my day. There is plenty of time to get it done.

If I truly love my husband and my children then I will save television, books and sleeping for certain times of the day and only AFTER my responsibilities are taken care of. After all, I am a work at home mom who's job is to take care of my family and my home. If I had a job outside the home I wouldn't be able to sleep on the job.

Challenge:
Choose to react to your day with love instead of irritation. Look at your daily schedule to see how you can reduce stress and selfishness in your life. Look at your motivation behind your schedule if necessary.

Falling Off the Love Dare Wagon

Photo Credit

I did something silly after starting the Love Dare. I decided to allow my children to use my computer first thing in the morning for about a week. The first few days I wrote out my Love Dare posts by long hand in a notebook. Lost the notebook. It wasn't long before I fell by the wayside and stalled in my desire to enhance my marriage. I am not really much better off than when I started and I am somewhat dismayed because I really wanted to be at a better place when my 15th anniversary came up. So here I am. My anniversary is about 2 weeks away and I am still on week two of the Love Dare.

The good news is that God lets up pick up where we left off and move forward. So I am going to post the days that I completed but didn't get the opportunity to type up and simply date them after this post. I apologize for anyone that was following me and then I disappeared.

I look forward to seeing the changes that God has in store for me, my marriage and my family. I hope you will jump in and join me.