How Many Blessings Do You Want?

About an hour ago, I e-mailed Eric and asked him if he would be willing to transfer some money from his Starbucks gift card onto mine. He’s been cutting back on sugar (though, he loves raspberry mocha fraps) and thus has not frequented coffee shops as much as he used to. Last Wednesday I used up the last $2 on my Starbucks card, and as you could imagine, I feel rather insecure when I lack coffee cash. ~smile~

About five minutes after asking him if he’d be willing to transfer a certain amount from his card to mine, he told me that the Starbucks money had been transferred. Little acts of kindness such as this remind me that I am married to a good man.

Last year, I was at a friend’s house and she asked her husband for a small favor. He gladly complied with her wishes and she said, “You’re such a blessing.” It was such a sweet exchange; it wasn’t gushy or awkward. Instead, it was matter-of-fact and kind. It did my heart good to see this couple work together. They selflessly offer their help to each other, and in the end, they are a blessing to each other.

It is wonderful to be able to say after several years of marriage that my husband is still a blessing to my life. In fact, he’s more of a blessing today than he was in the beginning. Not only is he a blessing because he shares his Starbucks cash, but in the small ways he makes my life sweeter.

He offers to help when I’m speed cleaning for company. He gets up on the weekend to tend to our dog so I can sleep in a little longer. He works long hours, sometimes staying up late into the night, to provide for our family. In the big areas, and in the small, Eric is a blessing to my life. When I think about how life could be, I am grateful for such a good man.

As I reminisce on some of my dating excursions before Eric, I can remember boyfriends that were a blessing to my life and boyfriends that were not. There was one guy that bought me flowers for no reason and always had time to talk and listen. There was another that laughed at me constantly; made fun of me in front of others; and, in general, pulled me down emotionally and spiritually. (Note: while this guy was not a blessing to my life, I was still responsible for my emotions and spiritual life. I let my guard down and chose to believe the lies he was telling me.)

Obviously one of these two boyfriends was a far greater blessing to my life than the other. Had I married someone who enjoyed laughing at me, insulting me, and using me, then I am certain my life would be miserable now. It is the grace of God that Eric found me.

So, let me ask you. Is your boyfriend or girlfriend a blessing to your life? Does he treat you with gentle respect? Does he treat others with respect? If not, he is only putting on a show for you. Does she respect you in how she speaks to and about you? How does she relate to you in front of others? Does she build you up in front of family and friends, or discuss your flaws and embarrass you at every pass? Take the time to observe your significant other in this area and choose your marital partner wisely. After all, how many blessings do you want? When you enter into marriage with someone, you will want to know that in good times and bad, he or she will be a cushion to your heart and not a blister.

In what ways does your boyfriend or girlfriend actively bless your life?