Adjusting to Domesticity: Paper and Paste

Let me just say that I love being married. :) A couple of weeks back, I wrote a post about one of the lessons I've learned in the first year of married life as I've "adjusted to domesticity" and I thought I would keep the ball rolling with another post along the same lines...

People will often warn you in advance of marriage that you will have some squabbles with your new spouse as you learn how to live together. They will also tell you that some of these will be over fairly petty stuff. Some of the most common warnings I've heard have been that little things will irritate you and set off a disagreement such as how you put a roll of toilet paper on the holder or where you squeeze the tube of toothpaste. For some people this can be a big deal.

I'm very grateful that this has not been the case for us. I may have a strong preference, but as long as the empty roll gets replaced I could care less which way it is hung. Pretty much the same with the toothpaste...as long as I can push it down to the bottom when we get low. :) I guess I just decided that it didn't really matter to me as much as learning to live with my husband did.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this...pick your battles very carefully and be flexible. "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:18) I decided that being "right" in my own mind was not worth it. It wasn't worth sacrificing unity with my husband over paper (toilet paper at that) or peace in our home over a tube of toothpaste. Yes, you will still have petty fights. Believe me...I'm still smacking myself for some of the minor things I've gotten mad about before...*facepalm*

Usually when that happens, there is something deeper at play that needs to be addressed. Whether I'm tired, hormonal, upset, or something else entirely, these kind of minor issues are what bring all of that to a head. Sometimes, I just need to acknowledge what's going on and ask forgiveness for letting it turn me against the ones I love. I'm learning to recognize this and my wonderful husband is a huge help in that regard. :) He wants me to grow as much as I want to grow and by God's grace I will press forward.

So the next time we feel we're getting worked up about something small, let's agree to all take a step back, a deep breath, and look inside ourselves first before pouncing on those who love us most. I'm sure our faces would thank us for cutting back on the "facepalms" :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan