Monday Madness- About those 2013 resolutions...

Good afternoon, dear readers. It's a balmy 74 degrees here in St. Louis ~and it's January 28th. Tomorrow the forecast calls for lots of rain that by Wednesday will turn into snow showers. My jonquils are so confused.  

Only a few days left in January. How are your New Year's Resolutions coming? Somehow, it's been easier to begin foreign language lessons and get a new hairstyle than it has been to learn to forgive completely and hold to healthy boundaries. (Can I get a witness up in here?!) The healthy boundaries with people is getting easier. I'm learning to say,"No thank you" and "Maybe another time". I've even said,"You know, I just don't think that's for me," and went on to the next thing. I'm a little proud of me. 


I think the more I am able to hold to the healthy boundaries, the easier forgiveness will come. And sometimes, I just have to let go what sometimes sneaks back in. And oh, unforgiveness can be sneaky. But forgiving is easier than signing up for swimming lessons. I guarantee it. 

Whatever your resolutions are, I hope you are holding to them. 2013~still 11 months left to make it happen!

Yours, living with an open hand,

Melissa

HUSBAND VS. DOG

So I read this short article someplace, maybe Reader’s Digest, about how we should try to treat our spouses like our dogs. In a good way. And I started thinking about this. Yes, I give my dog more affection than I give my husband. Yes, I excuse more bad behavior from my dog. No, I don’t mind cleaning up after my dog.

But here’s the thing: If my husband ACTED like my dog, I wouldn’t have a problem treating him like my furry baby! For example, if he ran up to me with such excitement every time I came home, even if I’d only been in the back yard for 5 minutes, so, so happy to see me. Or if he looked at me with such gratitude and love in his eyes every single time I gave him any small amount of affection. Or if, when I asked him to do something, he just did it without uttering a word. Or when I put my cold feet under his belly to keep them warm, he didn’t even move or complain. Or if I do something wrong or a little mean, he instantly forgives me. Or how he somehow senses when I’m having a bad day and snuggles next to me as much as he can.

**Sigh** I love my dog!

Oh, maybe this is what the article meant. Maybe this is how I’m supposed to act toward my husband.  Hmmm, I’ll have to ponder that. But I’m definitely drawing the line at the cold feet under the belly!

Karen