He walks through the front door and finds me slumped on the couch, watching a movie. Closing the door behind him, he asks, “Is there anything to eat?” “I don’t know…” I mumble… “I already ate.” I continue watching my movie. He is left to fend for himself.
He walks into the kitchen and grabs a few pretzels.
I am irritated. Frustrated. Tired. He’s been working so many hours and I have been alone. “How’d things go?” I ask as he sits on the couch next to me. The movie is still going. It is evident that I am only halfway interested in his day.
He doesn’t answer.
He has been so busy lately with his job, life, and people. And even though he can always work on saying “No!” more than he does, most of the time he is just doing what he has been called to do. He is working hard. Providing for his family.
I should get up. I should make him something to eat. I should turn off the movie and listen as he tells me about his day. I should be more encouraging.
I am ungrateful.
Genesis 3 tells me that because man sinned, his judgement would be that he would have to toil and have great hardships in making a livelihood. The same word which describes the pain of women in childbirth is used to describe man’s pain in laboring for a living. The life of man would be one of hard work caused by “thorns and thistles” indicating that even the plants of earth were adversely effected by man’s sin.
The next day in church the pastor reminds us that we have a choice. A choice to submit to our emotions or to submit to God. We should be praying. Rejoicing. The Lord is at hand…
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice….And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand…” (Let your gracious humility be on display for everyone!)
I slowly reach over and grab my husband’s hand. I glance at him and conviction’s arrow pierces my heart. This handsome, hardworking man came home to find a tired, ungrateful wife sitting on the couch.
How sad! (OUCH! Can we have a “do-over”?)
The Lord is at hand…(The Lord could come at any time…Christ is near you and He indwells you.)
I confess my sin to God. I confess my sin to my husband. I tell him I’m sorry I was slumped on the couch and he had to eat pretzels when he was hungry. I’m sorry I didn’t turn off the movie and that I wasn’t interested in his day.
I’m sorry I was ungrateful. I’m sorry that man sinned…and he has to work so hard!
I purpose to pray and rejoice and remember…The Lord is at hand!
