Day 26 - Love is Responsible

When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
—Romans 2:1

Today may not be the most fun of all the dares. But it might be the most rewarding yet.

Today's dare is kind of like visiting a nursing home. Have you ever been? Not my favorite place to go and it's not really my gift or my passion. But sometimes duty calls and I have to show up. But even though I normally arrive wishing I was ministering somewhere else, I have never, ever left sorry that I went!

Just like repentance. It isn't fun. Not my favorite place to spend a little time. It's not a place I am passionate about going to. But because we have to be responsible, adult, and THE man of our household, when it's time to go, we must show up. But I can also tell you that I have never, ever walked away from an altar of repentance, or a meeting to reconcile, or a phone call to apologize, or a time of restitution - well, you get the idea. I have never straightened out a wrong and been sorry that I did. Ever.

And how many wrongs do I still owe apologies for to my wife? Name three of them right now. Look back, way back. Look deep, real deep. Find three. And do the dare.


TODAY’S DARE

Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing in your marriage, your relationship with your wife. Ask for God’s forgiveness.

Then humble yourself enough to admit them to her. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask her for forgiveness. And no matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism or cynicism, accept it by receiving it as counsel.