My
husband is an avid golfer. I tried to get into it, but frankly, the passion
isn’t there. It takes technique, practice, skill, and a lot of patience. One of
the techniques he talked to me about was addressing the ball. I still don’t
understand it all but he factors in the wind, the club, the type of swing he
needs, the distance, it’s a whole thing.
There
was a season in our marriage where things were particularly stressful for him
at work. He was putting in at least 60 hours of work, so the rare times he
played golf, I encouraged it because I knew it was something to help him
de-stress. Still, when he was home, he was tired and unable to focus on us. His
mind was on work, and his attitude was critical. That’s when I know stress is
really affecting him.
I
prayed about it because I knew he had no idea. I also realized it wasn’t
healthy for him to carry the stress with him, nor would his relationships
flourish with him feeling like he was and focusing so much on the negatives.
The picture I received in prayer was God-sent.
It
was a golf ball.
When
I found a small moment where he was home and able to talk and listen, I talked
about addressing the ball. It’s a process. It takes time. If he wants a good
game, he needs to put forth the effort in addressing the ball.
It’s
the same for marriage.
I
saw the light turn on as I shared. To ignore a spouse, or not put the quality
time and best attitude with marriage and family, is the same as failing to
address the ball. I confessed I want to give my relationships my all and work
on the process, the techniques, much as there are in golf. It was a perfect
analogy, and he admitted he was working hard on work, working hard on his game,
and was letting go of the effort required in a marriage built on oneness.
Instead of “addressing the ball,” he confessed he concentrated on what didn’t
look right at home because it was easier to criticize those closest to him than
take it out on co-workers. We decided to look at ways we could be intentional
in taking the golf technique to our marriage. With using the commute to pray
and switch gears from work to home, finding time to talk together, and sharing
our stress so the other could pray, we’ve been able to enjoy a fruitful
marriage---and my husband, a good golf game.
Heavenly
Father, when I’m stressed, help me be intentional with my loved ones. Let my
words be kind, let my attitude be prayerful, and may I lay my stress at
Christ’s feet. For Your honor, glory, and praise, Amen.
Julie Arduini loves to
encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad,
and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary
romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged,) as well as
the stand-alone novella, MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. She also shares her story in the infertility
devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her latest release, YOU’RE AMAZING, is a book
for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book
2 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series. She blogs every other
Wednesday for Christians Read,
as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She
resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her
at http://juliearduini.com,
where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of
resources and giveaway opportunities.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini
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Match Made in Heaven:
A Novella by Julie Arduini
Beth Prescott wants to make a difference with the senior
citizens she serves as a volunteer coordinator, but their matchmaking efforts
leave her guarded. She’s experienced too much pain to make that leap again.
Dean Kellerman returns to the Finger Lakes area to help his
grandfather and heal his own broken heart. He’s recommitted his life to Christ,
and doesn’t want any distractions.
When his grandfather needs assistance with a senior program,
it places Dean right in Beth’s path. Can these two surrender their paststo
Christ and have faith in each other and their future?
5 comments:
Love the golf ball analogy, Julie. Thanks for sharing. Match Made in Heaven sounds delightful.
Wonderful devotion, Julie. I'm glad your husband found it useful. I did. :)
Thank you, ladies, and thank you, Laura for letting me share. I tried earlier on my phone and I couldn't get it to go through. I'm glad you found it useful, Linda!
A potent analogy, Julie. Well done.
Lovely.
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