Communication and Conflict
Managing Conflict
from Focus on the Family
Right after Lori married Steve, she stared into his eyes and said, "I can't think of one thing about you I don't love." Six months later, she wanted to drive herself to the funny farm and check herself in. It seemed that everything about her husband drove her crazy. He tapped his fork on the edge of his plate during dinner; sounded like a garbage disposal when he snored, never parked the car straight in the church parking lot and always took the trash out late.
The worst part of it all is that Steve's annoyances were making Lori act like a crazy woman. She wondered what happened to the sensitivity and care with which she'd treated her husband and she hated who she'd become. Not only did she sometimes feel disdain for her husband, but she felt it for herself. Why couldn't she just be a loving wife?
What Lori didn't know is that becoming irritated about little things while living under the same roof with a spouse is normal. After much frustration and soul searching, she learned how to extend grace to her husband and respect to him in spite of what irritated her. Steve noticed and their marriage improved.
Do you long to have Lori's kind of heart, to be able to love your husband and overlook annoyances, big or small? God can help and we can too. We believe this series of articles will help in those times when your spouse is driving you crazy.