During this time of busyness, I know I have probably let my friends and family down by not being as available as I would like to be (hard to swallow for a people pleaser, like me). But something I've learned is that sometimes we have to CHEAT WELL to get by in life, especially when it means putting the Lord first and our marriages/spouses second.
We've been taught from when we were a child that cheating is wrong. One of our pastors taught used a passage from Hebrews to teach us a new way to cheat ... way to CHEAT WELL ... a way that just might make a difference in our relationships and marriages.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders
and the sin that easily entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Most of us know that sinning is wrong and will lead to bondage in our life, but look at what comes before that: "everything that hinders." Some translations say "weights" or things that get in the way of our relationships.
The world we live in today is a fast paced; we have e-mail, Facebook, smart phones, DVR, bluetooth, DVR, twitter, kindle, and more channels on our TV than we know what to do with. We are constantly bombarded with decisions and technology that we can barely keep up! This can rob us from depth in our lives and our relationships.
During my season of change and busyness, I had "learn how to cheat well," as one of our pastors taught. This is a hard lesson for a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser! I had to pick the non-negotiables in my life: (1) my relationship with the Lord, (2) my husband, and (3) my health. If I had time for other things after that, than great, but these top priorities had to come first.
So, I became a cheater.
Here are some things I am learning to "cheat well":
So, I became a cheater.
Here are some things I am learning to "cheat well":
- Dishes
- Cleaning our home
- Writing blogs
- Reading blogs
- Having everything organized (please don't look in my closets)
- Hanging out with all of my friends
- Sending cards for birthdays and anniversaries
I could see my life spiraling out of control, and I knew that some things had to take a back seat for a while if I wanted my marriage to thrive. I am thankful for a husband who understands when our home isn't spotless at all times. I am thankful he understands if I need to take a nap instead of do the dishes right away. It took longer than I would have liked to get our new home put together, but our marriage survived the turmoil that it takes when going through so much change.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Proverbs 22:3
What's more important putting a box away today or working on my marriage so that it will last a lifetime?
What are some areas that you can learn to cheat, so that your relationships can thrive?
