"I don't get why you're pressuring me to go to that stupid meeting," Chip told his wife, Cheryl.
Cheryl stared at him. "Pressuring you? I just asked if you'd be willing to go with me. It'll only take an hour. Why is that such a problem for you?"
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me. It'll only take an hour. Why is that such a problem for you?"
"Because you 'asked' me in that tone of voice that says I'll be in real trouble if I say no."
"What?" Cheryl said. "Why do you always make such a big deal about a simple request?
What's your problem?"
"Well, why do you always have to wait until the last minute to ask me?"
"Fine!" Cheryl said. "I'll just stop asking. You never want to do anything with me anyway."
Wow. It started with one person's simple request--or what she thought was simple--and
ended with hurt feelings, a ruined evening (or maybe an entire weekend), and no physical intimacy.
Wouldn't it be nice if marriage were a smooth ride where we always get along, our spouses see things exactly as they "should," and nary a conflict arises?
Unfortunately, as much as we try to avoid conflict, we still find it winding its way into our most intimate relationship. But what if God allows conflicts in marriage to grow us rather than simply frustrate us?
