Opposites Attract

At dinner last week at our fishing cabin, with three 17-year old guys, as only Staci can do when she is in rare form (that’s most of the time), asked the boys what were they looking for in a future wife. I know what’s she’s doing when she asks those kinds of questions. It’s an “imparting wisdom” time. One of the boys immediately spoke up and because he had a recent break-up with a girl, said, “Now I know I want someone just like me – has the same sense of humor, likes the same foods and other things, loves God just like me.” Hold on to your seat.....the firehose is getting ready to come out! LOL! Because Staci and Larry are complete opposites but have adapted themselves to each other’s likes and dislikes, she had some great words for him and, in fact, for all of us!

We’ve all witnessed couples that we’ve thought "How did THEY ever get together?" I know that's the way it was for my husband and I. He had a serious, intuitive, methodical, perfectionist, deep-thinker personality. I, on the far end of the spectrum (as far as the East is from the West), was/am a lighthearted, sanguine, fun-loving, upbeat, go-with-the-flow personality. It worked well for us. We completed each other. We made each other better because of what one of us lacked, the other had. But, it didn't come without years of maturing and adapting.

Speaking of “opposites attract”, think about how opposite we are in our relationship with God. He is perfect; we are not. His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than our ways and our thoughts. He loves unconditionally; we do not. He forgives and forgets. We try to forgive, and seldom forget. He gives without expectation of return. We give expecting to receive.

Here's the really good news. He is attracted to us, and we are attracted to Him. Everything that He is, and we're not, is okay -- He knew that, so His perfect plan of giving us His best, His one and only Son, bonded us together in perfect completion. Yes, "In Him you have been made complete......" (Colossians 2:10) Like my husband and I, after spending so much time together, we started completing each other’s sentences. We knew exactly where to go out to eat, because after all that time together….we knew what we loved to eat. And, every day as we spend time with God, we'll find ourselves taking on more and more of His characteristics and His beauty, and before long, we start to think as He thinks, forgiving and forgetting like He forgives and forgets, and gives and loves unconditionally.

We sure do want to be like Him, but it can be a long, slow process of growth. Like in our marriages, maturing in Him, is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of our lives. St. Paul said, "This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like Him." (Ephesians 4:13). We are a work in progress, but the longer we are in relationship with Him......the more we will be complete in Him. And, in this case -- OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT!
#OppositesAttract #PerfectGod

Have You Noticed How Opposites Attract?

Day 132 of Photo Inspirations -- Have you noticed how opposites attract?
You might think "How did THEY ever get together?"  I know that's the way it was for my husband and I.  He had a serious, intuitive, methodical, perfectionist, deep-thinker personality.  I, on the far end of the spectrum (as far as the East is from the West), was/am a lighthearted, saguine, fun-loving, upbeat, go-with-the-flow personality.  It worked well for us.  We completed each other.  We made each other better because of what one of us lacked, the other had.  But, it didn't come without years of maturing and adapting.

I started thinking about our relationship with God -- how very opposite we are.
He is perfect.  We are not.
His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than our ways and our thoughts.
He loves unconditionally.  We do not.
He forgives and forgets.  We try to forgive, and seldom forget.
He gives without expectation of return.  We give expecting to receive.

But, here's the really good news.  He is attracted to us, and we are attracted to Him.  Everything that He is, and we're not, is okay -- He knew that, so His perfect plan of giving us His best, His one and only Son, bonded us together in perfect completion.  Yes, "In Him you have been made complete......" Colossians 2:10  And, everyday as we spend time with Him, we'll find ourselves taking on more and more of His characteristics and His beauty, and before long, we start to think as He thinks, forgiving and forgetting like He forgives and forgets, and gives and loves unconditionally.

Oh, how much we want to be like Him, but it's a long, slow process of growth. Like in our marriages, maturing in Him, is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of our lives.  St. Paul said, "This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him." (Ephesians 4:13).  We are a work in progress, but the longer we are in relationship with Him......the more we will be complete in Him.  And, in this case -- OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT!
#OppositesAttract #PerfectGod

Lathered Up With a Fishing Pole Between Our Toes

As I looked up at my office wall yesterday, I was reminded of one of my favorite fishing stories.  My husband, teenage daughter and I flew on a seaplane into secluded, Side Saddle Lake in Manitoba to fish for the day.  A seaplane was the only way to get into that lake.   My husband, with his organized personality, had all his fishing equipment in order and ready to go.  That included a depth finder, a fish locator, and every rigging you could possibly need to catch "the big one"!  His philosophy was always "If you're going to do something, do it right and do the best job you can at it!"

My daughter and I, on the other hand, both sanguine personalities, take-it-as-it-comes and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants mentality, had two things in mind, to catch fish and to catch some sun rays.  We were greased up from head to toe in suntan oil.  My husband, with his meticulous way of doing things, patiently trolled the boat all around the lake, ensuring we were on just the right spots to catch walleye,  Staci eventually had on a 12-pound alligator gar that was so strong and mighty, it nose-dived and went right through the fish net when she tried to land it.  Now there was this gapping hole in the net.

Not long after that, Staci and I were both laying back in the boat, catching some rays, oiled up, and our fishing rods were snug between our toes. My husband was dismayed that we were getting suntan oil all over his tackle and bait. Bless his heart -- he tried so hard to be patient with us.   Suddenly I had a huge hit on my line. We could see it was a BIG ONE -- a big walleye.   Staci and I were squealing and rocking the boat and Ron did his best to calm us down. I reeled as he held the net (with the hole in it).  With even more determination, he helped me get that 'big boy' into the boat, which is the fish you see here.

Ron was so proud of me, as that "catch" qualified me as a Master Angler in the Province of Manitoba.  

When I think about all my precious husband went through to make for such a great experience for his girls -- the details, the right equipment, the perfect location and setting -- not to mention the stress we gave him -- I know, that still, he was absolutely bursting with joy and pride at HIS accomplishments.  But, I have to tell you, he took life so seriously -- he worked so hard -- he was so detailed in getting things done just right -- and often in the middle of it all had so much less fun than we did.  Then there's his two girls that just showed up and relaxed and embraced the moments, and had a party.   It was immaterial to us if we caught any fish at all.  We were there for the fun (that's what sanguines do).  But, all in all, we needed each other  then, and we ALL need each other today!  Regardless of the personality differences -- the ones who have it altogether, as well as those who are free-spirited, we need each other.  We bring balance to each other.  Opposites "attract" for a reason -- it certainly was that way for us for over 44 years.  He made us better because of his organization.  We made him better because he learned to "chill" more.   And, if we all took life less seriously, if we slowed down, relaxed and embraced the moments, we will find blessings just come so naturally --  even if we're all lathered up with a fishing pole between our toes!