I Hope You'll Dance....and Remember to Smile!

"A selfless attitude is the foundation for overcoming obstacles in your relationships with men."

This morning's devotion was all about learning how to "dance" as a couple in a marriage. I loved how the author compared marriage to a dance. She says, "Marriage is similar [to dancing], it takes two parties moving in the same direction and anticipating each others' moves to be successful".

This is so true. I'm not one who knows how to dance, but I've tried it a couple times and it's just a bad idea. However, if I have a good teacher showing me what to do, step by step, I handle it pretty well. So, where's that teacher in marriage? Telling me what to do step by step? Well, I haven't found one yet so we're learning on our own. There will be stumbling blocks and he'll probably step my my toes a bit at first (and I'll do the same to him) but with much practice, we'll figure it out! And we're having fun along the way! That's just it...instead of becoming angry or upset when the "mess-ups" occur (and sometimes getting your toes stepped on hurts) just laugh! It's a learning process and you'll get there!

Along the way, during the practicing, make sure to remember that your partner is not a mind reader! I find myself thinking this often...I need to stop! My hubby is amazing, but not a mind reader. I find myself saying things like, "you should just know to do that", or "if I tell you to do it, then it doesn't count". I have to remind myself that I may see it, but he doesn't. I need to take the author's advice and utilize the "formula for communicating my needs". It goes like this, "I feel....when....because...". You feel in the blanks with how you're feeling and it works! And no one gets hurt!

I hope I'm making sense....I feel like I'm just rambling on. Hopefully, if you're in the same boat as me at times, you'll know what I'm talking about!

The bottom line is this...marriage is work! Relationships take time! Smile!!! Keep your chin up!!! It's better to laugh and learn than to struggle through it having no fun at all. Besides, these moments are building your beautiful dance one step at a time!

"Dancing is a wonderful training for girls. It's the first way you learn to guess what a man is going to do before he does it."
               Christopher Morley