Christ died on the Cross so that I would mirror His example and approach the sacrifices required for my own salvation with the same courage and love.
I have been reflecting on how I argue with my husband.
We have been married – through the Grace of God – for almost sixteen years and have known each other for longer than that. And this time means that we are comfortable arguing with each other. We have certainly had some practice at doing that very thing, that is for sure…
And the reason I raise this is because it is a very different thing to have to have to argue and negotiate with someone who you do not know very well. When you know someone well. You can understand what things they will listen to and what things they will most likely ignore. You can understand how you should raise concerns and when they should be raised. This is not to say that as a human being, we do not lose our patience or control at times, which results in sub-optimal outcomes where we fight and do not argue, but it is to say that the arguments become more strategic and result in more positive change when both parties of the relationship are willing to negotiate…
And I have been reflecting on how I approach my arguments these days. You see, when I start an argument by criticising my husband, I generally receive criticism in return. But, when I start my arguments with praising something good that my husband has done, I generally receive some positivity in terms of hearing about the changes that I would like to happen in my life and in our relationship. And today, it seems to me that the response I receive is a mirror of the output I provide.
And I have been thinking about that today. For it seems that God has engaged in a lifelong argument with me. I do not mean this in a disrespectful way. After all, God is so far superior to me that there would be no contest in a “war of words”. What I mean to say is that God has agreed to approach me with His Will and His perspective, in the same way that I consciously approach my husband – with consideration of who I am and how I will react in order to achieve the best possible GOOD…
And I have been thinking about that today. For it takes great love and patience for me to do this with my husband – and I am really no better than he is. But for God – who is infinitely superior to me – how much more love and patience foes He exhibit to persuade me to go along with His plan? In fact, He exhibited so much love and patience that He suffered and died for me on the Cross… And He did that so that I would mirror His example and approach the sacrifices required for my own salvation with the same courage and love.
And I have been thinking about that today – for I hold the eternal and infinite mirror inside my soul – and I spend so much time trying to look the other way…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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