Making up part 2

Two couples--one married 61 years, the other at their wedding reception. One with many "makings-up" behind them, one with many ahead. We "make up" for each other, in our patience, our kindness, our givings-in, and our goings-without. Where one person lacks, the other fills in, and vice versa. To do this without resentment or pride is the hard thing, the thing we spend a lifetime learning.

Here's pride: In my marriage, I am the queen of grammar and pronunciation. Is this helpful, my tendency to correct my husband? Does this build him up, as I am called to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (below)? Probably not. And how does my husband "make up" for me? He laughs, or he practices the right way to pronounce a word. And he loves me anyway.

Here's resentment: Giving up time to help with the taxes, turning back to watch the Super Bowl when there are five minutes left to Downton Abbey, explaining things twice. Dennis is a good man, and deserves better than this from me.

"Therefore encourage one another, and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians is full of such admonitions, and we do well in the Lord to keep trying to obey, remembering always that "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).