It was a beautiful sunny day, not a care in the world, in fact I think I heard angels singing that morning. I was minding my own business, pulling my truck out of the garage. I have a big truck, an Excursion, yes one of those "green" vehicles you hear so much about. My tree hugging vehicle has one of those annoying beeping signals that goes off every time I put it in reverse and leave the garage because of the shadows, so once again, I pushed the little button to make it stop. However this time, I should have let it sing it's song of warning to me.
My husband had parked his truck in the most perfect spot for me to introduce my Excursion to it. Although it was trying to hide- can you believe how his truck just blends into the landscape? It's practically camoflauged there in the driveway, up against the green background of the trees, all dark blue and sneaky like. (This is a re-enactment so the truck was actually facing the other way but don't let that interrupt the story for you).
So I back out of my garage and smack right into his stealth truck sitting there all smug. Well, the joke was on that pickup truck because my Excursion didn't even get a scratch, but look at what happened to him.
I screamed, Lauren jumped, and then I kicked myself (which is not easy sitting down) for being so stupid as to turn off my irritating beeper and worse yet- for not looking behind me!
Ugh! How could I be so stupid?! I soooo wanted to turn back the clock about 20 seconds and do things very differently. BUT, as you know I couldn't.
That is where the lesson for marriage comes in. In the same way that I could not take back my actions, we can't take back our words. We need to think very carefully about what we say to our spouses, especially when we are really upset about something.
So many times, I have said things that I wanted to take back, but the damage had been done and I had to deal with the consequences of those bitter words.
Let my regrets in driving be a reminder to you and encourage you to think about the results and reprocussions of the words that you speak BEFORE you say them so you don't end up becoming a weapon of mass destruction in your marriage or should I say a "weapon of mass DISCUSSION".Follow this and you should be just fine!
Eph 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
NIV
So to answer the question stiring in your mind... he was fine. He shook his head and couldn't understand how I didn't see it...but he didn't get upset. Whew!!!
9 comments:
Thanks for sharing! What a great reminder to all of us.
I'm glad there wasn't more damage, either to the vehicles or the marriage. :) I have a very bad habit of backing out of my garage without looking behind me.
Have a great week!!
So when that little voice in my head is screaming "don't say it, don't say it" I shouldn't ignore it?
Why is it so hard to control our tongues?
I catch myself fighting with myself... "but if I don't say it how will he know for the next time" then self screams again "don't say it". It sounds comical and is looking back but boy oh boy in the heat of the moment no one is laughing.
Smiles!
I love the analogy...mass destruction is def how our words can harm our marriages....Lord,help my words be gentle and uplifting and not destroying....thanks for the reminder, Sue....blessings
Thank you for this message, it was if God wanted me to hear it today. I was not angry at my Hub's but at my son, I regret my harsh words to him and asked for forgivness, I really need to write Eph 4:29
on a card and memorize it.
Jennifer...I KNOW that voice!! LOL
Ah, yes. Those building up words - not the knocking down ones. They're good to have around!
Weapons of mass DISCUSSION. Very funny!
Funny, yes, but there is truth in that description.
I don't know what I'm more in shock with. The fact that you did what you did or the fact that your husband didn't get upset. Either way, I feel for you. :)
I needed to read this.
Post a Comment