Deployment Love Dare Day 5

I know, I know.....I'm so behind....but I guess thats the beauty of a long deployment....I've still got time. lol.

So Recap:

Day 1: Love is Patient. Do or not say or write anything negative or critical. Choose to be positive or quiet.

Day 2: Love is Kind. Add in at least one unexpected demonstration of kindness.

Day 3: Love is not Selfish: Buy something to mail that will show your spouse that you were thinking of them.

Day 4: Love is Thoughtful: By e-mail or telephone, if possible, ask your spouse the question, "How are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you?

Day 5: Love is not Rude: Better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. Proverbs 21:19 (Ouch)

Dare: By e-mail or phone, ask your husband to name three things you do which causes him to be uncomfortable or irritated. Avoid defensiveness, that is a sign of immaturity. Give no excuses--just ask. And the next question for yourself, what can i do with this information to change in this area?

Just for kicks, I'm guessing on my own what I think R will say. We'll see if I'm right. ;-)

Day 4 of the Deployment Love Dare

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones--Proverbs 16:24

I really love this verse! R worked on a bee farm for a smidge and learned amazing facts about honey and how wonderfully natural it is. So this verse comes to life for me.

This dare is, "Love is thoughtful."

I tell my kids all the time to "think before they speak," but do I? Especially with my husband. He is the one I am most open and honest with and the one I probably hurt with my words the most too.

Deployment will complicate this whole matter. Not only is separation and distance a factor, but the responsibilities overseas and at home can loom large during this demanding time. This is all the more reason to be intentional in thinking about each other and saying so!

The Dare: By e-mail or phone, if possible, ask your spouse the question, "How are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you?" If we think loving thoughts we are spurred on to loving actions.

This dare is not a difficult one for me. I tend to over ask R these questions. I'm the one never quite satisfied with the normal answer, "I'm ok." Usually if I get that response, I say, "no really, how are you." LOL.

Portions of this comes from excellent or praiseworthy.

Day 3 of the Deployment Love Dare

Love is not selfish!

If there were ever a word that basically means the opposite of love, it's selfishness. The grim reality is that we are all selfish, we are born that way. It is something we all have to fight against.


We are all familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter. Some of you might have even had it as apart of your wedding. We usually stop before verse 11, but if you continue, it says this:


"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."


So.....the question of the day is......"have you put your childish ways behind you?" Are you treating others the way you would like to be treated?


Are you treating your spouse as the precious gift from God that they are?


Here is the challenge:
Mail something special to your spouse. Something that says you are thinking of them.

I found this card at the exchange today. I love it! sooo cute! My hubby is a reservists currently on active duty so this card is perfect for us! :-)

www.excellentorpraiseworthy.org

Day 2: Love is Kind

Love is Kind

"Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance. Patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing. One is preventive, the other proactive." (p6)

The challenge: During deployment, in addition to not saying anything negative or hurtful, add at least one unexpected act of kindness. Because of distance, it could be a kind word, a compliment, or a simple Thank You.

A kind hearted woman gains respect. Proverbs 11:16

I am sending my sweet husband an e-card this evening!

Deployment Love Dare

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about staying connected to my husband during deployment. I'm learning that it takes even more intention to stay connected and engaged while he is away. Excellent or Praiseworthy has a deployment love dare.....so I say....why not!!!

Day 1: Love is Patient

I love this part.....
As sure as a lack of patience will turn your home into a war zone, (so true, so true), the practice of patience will foster peace and quiet......(my goal is to accomplish patience without gritted teeth...ha ha)......patience is where love meets wisdom....patience helps you give your spouse permission to be human.....it gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under pressure.

Here is the challenge: Do not say anything negitive in phone, e-mail, letter, or skype. Do not say or write anything critical or negitive. Choose to be positive or quiet.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2