I sometimes watch couples treat each other worse than Jesus taught us to treat those who hate and attack us. So, in honour of Valentines, a few suggestions loosely based on Matt 5:39-47.
But I tell you not to resist your upset bride. If she complains about you, leave yourself open for more. If she demands you watch less football, watch less basketball also. If she compels you to go shopping at one mall, go with her to two. Give to her when she asks you, and when she wants your help do not turn away.” You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall like your neighbour and love your wife.’ But I say to you, love your wife also, bless her if she yells at you, do good to her when she is PMSing, and pray for her when she refuses you, that you may be a son of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the loving and on the unloving, and sends good things on the giving and on the selfish. For if you are nice to your bride only when she is nice to you, what reward have you? And if you hug her only when you want something, what do you do more than others?
Yeah, I know it’s a stretch – but is it really beyond what we are called to?
