Dirty Dishtowels, Rotten Bananas and Peace

Does your husband have little things that annoy him? He is not alone! It's always interesting to me that the things that bother my husband, usually go unnoticed by me. Things like bananas. This fruit get sweeter the more it ripens although the outside peel gets darker and darker. Almost black (on the peel) bananas make the best banana bread! But one of my husband's pet peeves is seeing 'rotten bananas' on the counter. I can simply over look them, but it seems to really get under his skin.

Dish towels are another issue (apparently)! My dish towels get used alot through the day. A comment was made recently that let me know the dish towel was looking dirty (stained, not dirty!). Again, I could easily overlook this, but it seemed to bother him. What is the right thing to do in this minor tug of war?

Although these are minor issues, how they are handled can make it a bigger issue. A good wife knows that a secret to peace is to think of others and their feelings. Marriage has a way of chiseling out selfishness in our lives. It takes diligence and sacrifice to be 'a good wife'. But the more effort we give and the more attention we pay to minor details, bring about great blessing to our marriage. "Who can find a virtuouswife?For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10, Becoming a virtuous wife doesn't just happen. It begins with the small areas and practicing them day by day. This prepares us for the big things that will arise. As the good qualities of a wife grow in our hearts - patience, love, kindness, compassion, the qualities that can tear down are diminished - selfishness, pride, bitterness.

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain." Proverbs 31:11. We all desire this type of trust, but it doesn't automatically come. It comes through minor decisions to put others first, to choose peace, to be flexible and respectful. So the next time a little issue arises, stop and think beyond our feelings and onto a peaceable solution - (hide the bananas and bleach the dishcloths!).

^"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18

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