Today on the radio I heard the beginning of this program highlighting a book with a title like "When Sinners Marry". It caught my attention, so I actually listened. (I usually flip stations as soon as the talk starts.)
The man was talking about a situation when he took his wife out on a date to a very nice restaurant. During the course of the meal, he made an "observation", which she didn't take very well. He said had he been wise, he could have diverted the conversation or immediately tried to make amends, but instead he escalated the situation. He said his wife was very upset and disappointed. One of the "hosts" on the show grabbed his cell phone and actually called his wife. She started laughing, said she remembered the incident though she didn't remember what it was about, just that it happened. They started talking about forgiveness, and either my brain started chasing rabbits or I switched stations, not sure which.
But either way, it reminded me of two different friends in two different states who posted on Facebook recently about being excited about a date but then ended up arguing that night instead. I could be wrong, but I imagine almost every married couple has had at least once occasion that they were highly anticipating, only to be either disappointed or let down. Whether it's because our focus is on ourselves or we've simply built up unrealistic expectations about the event, the reality is, it happens.
And that makes me think about other areas of my life as well. Whether it has been visiting a college, a restaurant, a church, a new recipe, or a vacation site, the times I have been disappointed or let down, it's been because I had this preconceived (and often totally unrealistic) idea of what the place or item was like. When faced with these situations, it's a real stretch for me to apply that verse of Paul's that says we're to be content with whatever condition we find ourselves in. I much prefer to fix or change things instead of changing my attitude. I mean, hey...I put a lot of sweat and time into those stupid tomato seedlings. Be thankful I have the money to buy plants after all at that hard work? Are you kidding me? I want instead to buy a simply spray that will make them miraculously stand up straight and grow and produce like they're supposed to. Is that too much to ask?
My great expectations are only great when they're realistic, which for this dreamer isn't very often.
The man was talking about a situation when he took his wife out on a date to a very nice restaurant. During the course of the meal, he made an "observation", which she didn't take very well. He said had he been wise, he could have diverted the conversation or immediately tried to make amends, but instead he escalated the situation. He said his wife was very upset and disappointed. One of the "hosts" on the show grabbed his cell phone and actually called his wife. She started laughing, said she remembered the incident though she didn't remember what it was about, just that it happened. They started talking about forgiveness, and either my brain started chasing rabbits or I switched stations, not sure which.
But either way, it reminded me of two different friends in two different states who posted on Facebook recently about being excited about a date but then ended up arguing that night instead. I could be wrong, but I imagine almost every married couple has had at least once occasion that they were highly anticipating, only to be either disappointed or let down. Whether it's because our focus is on ourselves or we've simply built up unrealistic expectations about the event, the reality is, it happens.
And that makes me think about other areas of my life as well. Whether it has been visiting a college, a restaurant, a church, a new recipe, or a vacation site, the times I have been disappointed or let down, it's been because I had this preconceived (and often totally unrealistic) idea of what the place or item was like. When faced with these situations, it's a real stretch for me to apply that verse of Paul's that says we're to be content with whatever condition we find ourselves in. I much prefer to fix or change things instead of changing my attitude. I mean, hey...I put a lot of sweat and time into those stupid tomato seedlings. Be thankful I have the money to buy plants after all at that hard work? Are you kidding me? I want instead to buy a simply spray that will make them miraculously stand up straight and grow and produce like they're supposed to. Is that too much to ask?
My great expectations are only great when they're realistic, which for this dreamer isn't very often.
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