I look forward to Five Minute Friday! It’s always fun to see where it leads my little brain! Today’s prompt is “Agree”. If you’d like to see more thoughts on the subject click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12: 9-10, 18 (NLT) / Pixabay
We couldn’t be more different, my husband and I. From the moment we met, when this city girl shook up his country world, it was evident that there was little upon which we would agree. He’s talk radio and I’m music up full blast. Sweet tea with a little ice is his preferred drink; Mine? Unsweet with ice to the max. He’s an early bird. I’m an owl. We have dueling thermostats. Mine usually requires a sweater while he’s in short sleeves. Sleep number? His, high. Mine, low. And when his head hits the pillow? He’s fast asleep, while my mind whirls and twirls before I finally drift off. And after all this time, the list continues to grow.
They say opposites attract and for thirty-four years and counting we’ve been proof it’s true. It hasn’t always been easy; but early on we made the decision to just agree to disagree on the simple stuff. More importantly though, we realized that when it comes to things of greater significance: our faith, our mutual respect, our love for each other and our family, we’re on the exact, same page. Our differences have generated laughter, prompted discussion, expanded our understanding of things, and added variety to our lives; but it’s those core values we agree on that have made our relationship possible.
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Romans 12:4-6 (NLT)
Our world today seems focused on all the ways we are dissimilar in an attempt to force us further and further apart. I’m afraid it’s working. How about a different approach? What if we applied a little magnetic science (and the experience of an old married couple) and allowed ourselves to be drawn to those “opposites” we come in contact with? Think of the laughter we might share, the new things we could learn, the better understanding we would have if we would give “agree to disagree” a chance! I believe we’d begin to see people sharing more mutual respect, genuine care being given, commonalities discovered, and relationships being formed. I don’t know about you but this beach girl married to a mountain man thinks that’s exactly what this world needs more of!
Time’s up.