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Key Bible Verse: For even Christ didn't please himself (Romans 15:3). Bonus Reading: Romans 15:2-5

Norma's response wasn't exactly the expression of gratitude I'd anticipated. "Did you get the name of the person you spoke with?"

"Well, no."

"Gary, I can't use it if I don't know who approved it," she replied. "I'd be so embarrassed to go over there and be told, 'No, ma'am, we didn't okay this.' I need you to call back and ask for a name."

Internally, I was ticked. I'd tried to do a nice thing, and Norma had thrown it back in my face, dissatisfied with the way I'd handled it—although I'd been technically successful. My impulse was to throw the certificate on the table and stomp off.

But then the words [of today's Key Bible Verse] popped into my head. Was Norma's request really so unreasonable? Did I really want to spew hateful words that would require damage control later on?

I did walk away—to make another call. I obtained the name of the young woman with whom I'd chatted and even got the name of a second employee in case the first wasn't working when Norma went. I wrote both names on the coupon and gave it to Norma.

"Thank you," she said, smiling. "I appreciate your doing this even though you really didn't want to."

The spa treatment went off without a hitch.

—Gary Smalley in Marriage Partnership

My Response: What was my latest opportunity to show love, patience, and a willing spirit?

Thought to Apply: You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife?—BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Adapted from Marriage Partnership (Winter/05) by permission.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, may my love for You and for my mate drive me to replace self-centeredness with attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and serving.

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