As far as the Love Dare goes, today was a 'let's see what happens' kind of day. The CF public swimming complex opens tomorrow, so Karen's concession stand has to be ready to go at noon, and I knew she would have a lot of last minute details. So I tried to stay flexible and alert to any opportunities to be loving, and I think I did good tonight! It wasn't so much 'what' we did, it was more a matter of me picking up the signals and responding to the opportunity when it came.
I got home about 5:30, a few minutes before Karen. She'd been working at the pool, getting ready for tomorrow, and as she came through the door, I asked, "Are you ready go?" Her quick reply was, "Ready to go out to eat?" Now, we hadn't even discussed that possibility, so a lot of responses went through my mind, like "Well, I hadn't thought of that!" or, "Again?" or "If we keep going out like this, you're going to forget how to cook!" I don't know why I often feel compelled to give some smart-alecky, love squelching reply at exactly the wrong time! I usually say it and then feel compelled to pray 'the man's prayer.' You Red Green fans know 'the man's prayer.' "I'm a man, but I can change... if I have to... I guess!" But tonight, I got it right! My mind raced past all those bad answers and chose the right one. "Absolutely! Where would you like to go?" And with a smile on Karen's face (and mine) we headed off to a nice quiet meal out. Nothing to prepare. No clean-up. Plenty of time to talk.
It's funny how much better I see opportunities to love people when I'm actively watching for them! In Titus 3:1, we see an instruction to tell people to "be ready for every good deed." Tonight, I was ready.
I got home about 5:30, a few minutes before Karen. She'd been working at the pool, getting ready for tomorrow, and as she came through the door, I asked, "Are you ready go?" Her quick reply was, "Ready to go out to eat?" Now, we hadn't even discussed that possibility, so a lot of responses went through my mind, like "Well, I hadn't thought of that!" or, "Again?" or "If we keep going out like this, you're going to forget how to cook!" I don't know why I often feel compelled to give some smart-alecky, love squelching reply at exactly the wrong time! I usually say it and then feel compelled to pray 'the man's prayer.' You Red Green fans know 'the man's prayer.' "I'm a man, but I can change... if I have to... I guess!" But tonight, I got it right! My mind raced past all those bad answers and chose the right one. "Absolutely! Where would you like to go?" And with a smile on Karen's face (and mine) we headed off to a nice quiet meal out. Nothing to prepare. No clean-up. Plenty of time to talk.
It's funny how much better I see opportunities to love people when I'm actively watching for them! In Titus 3:1, we see an instruction to tell people to "be ready for every good deed." Tonight, I was ready.
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