Repost: Grace Under Fire

Dec 3, 2014 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

I’m sitting here with a box of Kleenex on one side and a pile of wadded tissues on the other. (Yes, I will disinfect my keyboard when I’m through.) My dear, sweet, generous husband gave me his cold.

Lying here in the middle of the night, unable to breathe or sleep, I began wondering what kind of wife I am when I’m sick.

None of us like adversity – whether it is a cold, or something as simple as a broken electronic, or as devastating as a hurricane or cancer. We would just as soon take a pass on any troubles – small or large. But right now we live in a broken world, so troubles are a part of our daily lives.

I’m learning to be gracious through difficulty. Notice “am learning,” not “have learned?” I think it is a life-long process to go through adversity without selfishly thinking the entire world must stop and take care of you. That’s our first inclination, you know. And thankfully, kind, helpful people do exist to get us through the tough times.

But am I one who helps through the tough times, or one of the needy? Am I a whiner, or a champion for others? Am I selfish, or thinking of others first?

No matter what, I always want to be the kind of wife who faces troubles with courage and prayer. Who does not whine or verbally attack my husband because I’m miserable. But speaks with grace and love to him.

I need to remember three things:

• I am utterly in love and committed to this man forever.
• He is my very best friend in the whole world. I never want to hurt him.
• He did not mean to give me his cold. 🙂

How do you respond or react toward your spouse when troubles strike?

~Jerolyn