Gloomy or Giddy?

Outside it is currently overcast with a feeling of gloominess!

In the northeast part of the country it is not only overcast but they are buried under up to three feet of snow!! That can be gloomy but others get giddy at the sight of so much white powder.

I guess it's how you look at it? Kind of like the glass being half full or empty metaphor. (by the way, it's half full!)

How can two people look at the same thing and come away with two radically different interpretations?

My wife and I are very different when it comes to our personalities. She's the detailed planner who works very hard at whatever task or project she puts herself to. I can see her going through her mental checklist to assure that she has prepared well to produce well.

I like to "go with the flow." I want to make sure we are prepared but not over prepared.  I like to enjoy the adventure of the unknown and deal with the surprises when they come.

That can drive her crazy!

These differences have also been a rich blessing spiritually. The Lord has used our different approaches to actually complement and challenge our views and our sanctification. Bev's attention to detail and discipline have been a necessary balance to my laid back approach. I've had to learn to not presume on God or take his blessings for granted which is my tendency.

On the other hand Bev has also grown in her trust in the Lord in the unknowns of life. Planning for the future is good and godly but when the control becomes more important than the trust it can lead to nagging frustration.

Your marriage and mine should really be a mini picture of the church. It should be the place where God is growing people more and more into the image of his Son. That often comes not through people who are the same but very different. We learn from and are sharpened by brothers and sisters who are used of God to make us deal with God.

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ..." Romans 12:4,5

So today, not only should you thank God for the differences in your partner but ask him to help you embrace them for his sake.