Friday, June 22, 2012

The third 'A' and a card

I am sharing a card I made using some pp I purchased as a digital download here.


I used Walnut Stain distress ink to stamp the Floating Meadow cling stamp from Hero Arts straight onto the PP. I also stamped and cut out a Butterfly from the same paper.

Secondly, my beautiful Christian friend Maria reminded me that I still had to share the third of the four 'A's, which is: ADAPT. 


So, for those that are interested:

It is never easy to adapt and especially the concept male/female can be particularly trying!
Carrying on with the book 'The Total Woman' by Marabel Morgen on this subject, I will highlight what she has to say because I couldn't say it any better. Bear in mind we are dealing with the general Biblical principles for everyday life.
Adapting to our husbands does bear fruit - although maybe not always visible short term. When I choose to live sacrificially I choose for the long term commitment - and it pays. We have already handled ACCEPT and ADMIRE. So if we accept our husbands as they are (trusting that God does the changing..) how do we ADAPT...Without further ado:

Quote:
Diana was feeling lonely, neglected and unloved. Should she put her foot down? Insist that he quit football? Demand that he spend more time at home? Threaten him? She had already tried that for two years, but of course nothing had changed. Should she withhold her love? Make him come begging to her? Play the martyr? She had tried that too... no change! The advice I gave her was to ADAPT as that was the only thing I knew would work. Adapt to his way of life wholeheartedly, even if nothing changed. When he is home, make life so attractive he won't want to leave. Don't make him feel guilty and don't complain. Instead, treat him like a king and cater to his needs.

What causes most of the problems in your marriage? I find that conflict between two separate egos is usually the culprit - your viewpoint versus his viewpoint. If they happen to be the same, fine. If not, as so often is the case, conflict results.
For instance, your weary man comes home from the office longing for a quiet evening; You have been cooped up in the house all day and want to get out. There's instant conflict with two egos, each shouting, "Me, me, me." So how can two different egos fuse their two different opinions into one? Some don't. It often results in two people going their separate little ways.

The biblical remedy for marital conflict is "Wifes, submit to your husbands' leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord". Ef.5:22
Before you scream, hear me out.... No one says you have to get married. If you do not wish to adapt to a man, stay single. If you are married but not adapting, you probably already know that marriage is not the glorious experience you anticipated.
You may think, "that's not fair, I have my rights. why shouldn't he adapt to my ways first and then maybe I'll consider doing something to please him?". I have seen many couples try this unsuccessfully! Unless the wife adapts to his way of life, conflict is certain to occur.

God originally ordained marriage. He gave certain ground rules and if they are applied a marriage will work...
Man and woman, although equal in status, are different in function. God ordained man to be the head of the family, its president and his wife to be the executive vice-president. When the order is turned around, the system breaks down... there is enough evidence of this in the world today!

We don't have to nag or be a doormat - we have our dignity, opinions and spunk, but we leave the final decisions over to our Head!

Unquote

We all can find creative ways to adapt and see what a relief it brings to our husbands. I have found that the times I have adapted and followed René (instead of thinking that 'my' way was better) and kept my mouth shut have been the times that I was refreshingly surprised how things worked out - I usually would think things would only go well if they went how I thought they should - WRONG!! We can be such control freaks! I thank God I am learning! On the other hand if I suggest something in the right attitude, I notice that my DH really thinks it over and actually a lot of times he has said, yeah, I think you are right this time!! It's just the way we say things sometimes! For me the key is: my relationship with René is also a mirror of my relationship to the Lord - that helps me stay in the right attitude.

I'm stopping here, not to make it too long. It might be helpful too to make this practical with some real issues.
God bless and have a lovely weekend!
Our weather is beautiful at the moment.
Jacqueline

13 comments:

  1. This card is stunning Jacqueline, thanks for the link to the digital download page, I am going to buy that paper too its so pretty.

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  2. Beautiful card! Lovely paper and the flowers stamped over it are the perfect detail!

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  3. So, as I understand adapt equals submit. This is a foundational biblical principle for marriage. Husbands should love their wives and the wives should submit to their husbands. This is how God has design the marriage to work.
    Thank you for sharing and feeding my soul and for the link - the papers and the card are amazing!
    I count it a big blessing to be your friend.

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  4. Your card looks amazing.. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Adapt. It is so true.. I remember learning about this in a class I took at church. Our egos really do get in our own way sometimes..

    Thanks~

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  5. Your card looks so beautiful, the stamp goes perfectly with the gorgeous backing paper!
    irascreacorner.blogspot.com

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  6. What a jaw dropping beautiful card! I like how you stamp over patterned paper. I may have to purchase that HA stamp. You seem to get so much mileage out of it! The butterfly is gorgeous!
    Thank you for sharing on adapting. I really needed this in light of what I e-mailed you. It is very timely for me and I appreciate you sharing.

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  7. great card Jacqueline. Thanks for the link to the paper... it's beautiful. And the rest of your post is thoughtful. I so agree with you. Compromise within a marriage is crucial ~ adapting is part of that.

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  8. A lot of food for thought Jacqueline! Thank you! And your card, as always, simply stunning! That shade of pink is so beautiful!

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  9. lovely, such inspirational words and so true

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  10. Beautiful card, Jacqueline! I always love your work. Hugs!

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  11. This is stunning art work jacqueline. Marvelous creation. Also your other work.
    Lovely greet
    Marja
    www.marjascreativity.blogspot.nl

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  12. STUNNING card Jacqueline! Thanks so much for the link to the beautiful papers!

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