Proverbs 10

Although there is a lot is chapter 10 about the connection between our speech and how it is viewed by God, it was actually verse 12 that seeemed to grab me considering the context of marriage.

"Hatred stirs up dissention,
but love covers over all wrongs."

I know that marriage won't be all roses and that Susan and I are likely to disagree. Maybe that's even an understatement knowing that she can get firery at times and that I can be insanely stubborn. But as verse 12 says, hatred stirs up dissention, and not the other way around. Also, hatred is a choice, dissention or disagreement might not be, but the reaction to a disagreement certainly is. What gets me here is that Susan and I have to be watchful not to let little things build up to a hatred. Once that happens, our marriage could get pretty dicey. I also know that with our personalities, it will take diligence on my part to make sure that we diffuse situations before they become larger issues.

Finally, then, since love covers over all wrongs, this will be my tool for diffusing difficult circumstances. I still remember that it is a choice and so even in the midst of conflict, I can choose to settle a dispute and let love take over. With love, we both have the ability to give and receive grace from one another to keep our marriage strong.

-Bob
-Bob