Creating Margin in Your Marriage - Day 4

A Picture of Margin!

The past few times we have talked about creating margin in your marriage.  We defined margin in marriage.  We talked about identifying opportunities to create margin.  We talked about creating margin together and creating it alone.  Let me paint you a picture of a marriage with margin.

I come home from  a stress filled day at work.  I walk in the door late.  Nancy says, “You look like you have had a tough day.”  She hugs me.  We sit down together and talk through my day.  That creates margin for me and I will be much more aware when she has a rough day.  I will want to be there for her like she was there for me.  We are creating margin.

I go clothes shopping with Nancy.  She is looking for something to wear to a party.  We have been in almost every ladies store in the mall.  I am tired and frustrated.  Instead of expressing these, I focus on her.  I see her frustration.  I tell her the the dress she tries on looks great on her but if she wants to keep looking we will.  That creates margin.

I want to go to a sporting event and  Nancy has no interest in going.  She goes.  Not only does she go, she does not complain.  She gets into the game (at least a little) and focuses on us being there together.  Margin is created.

I always have a choice in how I will react to my wife.  I can create distance in the marriage or I can create margin.  Distance loses.  Margin wins.  I choose margin.

What will you choose today?

Dr. Kim