Sign up for our free newsletter:

 2 of 2

One evening, about five months later,

I asked Trey what he liked about being married. He thought only for a few seconds before responding, "Honestly? Fighting over the bed with you."

I was startled that the one area I considered a rough spot in our marriage was actually endearing to him. "Are you serious?"

"Sure," he said. "At the end of the day, I get to fall asleep next to my best friend. Or try to fall asleep, at least."

As I contemplated Trey's answer over the next few days, I thought of all the good things that come with sharing a bed with my husband. Even the not-so-good things, I realized, can breed patience and kindness as we decide to look past each other's flaws and choose love, respect, and acceptance. After all, the apostle Paul writes, "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NASB). All things. Including a snoring husband and his pillow-obsessed wife.

Inevitably another night came with that too-familiar sound I'd grown to hate. I rolled to face Trey, ready to kick him awake. He was lying on his back—yes, snoring—but the poor guy was hanging halfway off the bed. I, on the other hand, had a nest of pillows. Suddenly, I felt guilty. So instead of trying to wake him, I did something entirely different: I gathered my pillows away from him and fell asleep.

We still have nights when we don't sleep as well as we'd like. But sometimes when I'm awake in the middle of the night, instead of glaring at Trey and feeling tempted to push him off the other side, I thank God for sending me a husband who has loved me faithfully in spite of my imperfections. Surely I can do the same.

Been married five years or less and have an issue, challenge, adjustment, or rant about marriage? Tell us about it! We'll pay $150 for each story that's featured in this column. Send it to: Starting Out at mp@marriagepartnership.com.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Marriage Partnership magazine. Click here for reprint information on Marriage Partnership.

first page |  2 of 2

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

RSS Feed   RSS Help