Enjoying Your Differences

Enjoying Your Differences

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

It has been suggested that two strangers could be married to each other off the street and make a pretty good marriage together if only they were mature enough to work their way through the inevitable differences.

How do you and your partner handle differences? If you are like most couples, you have probably tried one of two things: sweeping your differences under the rug by ignoring them altogether, or trying to make one another become like yourselves. Unfortunately, as you may have found out, both strategies are doomed to frustration. As for the first, it’s only a matter of time before repressed differences reemerge; and as for the second, we miss out on a tremendous gift of marriage when we do not enjoy our partners’ uniqueness. That’s right, enjoy the differences!

Every person is unique (see Psalm 139:14). God never intended couples to approach life as if they were twins separated at birth. He made us with unique strengths and weaknesses. He gave each of us special gifts. The difference in temperament that allows your partner to deal with situations that would drive you crazy is something to be thankful for. Sure, some of his or her traits make living together tough at times, but those very differences can account for some of the best aspects of your marriage too. Appreciating the positive side of your differences will make your marriage more balanced and complete.

What is one way your spouse’s uniqueness enriches your life today? Once you identify it, why don’t you share that with your spouse?

We continue to shape our personality all our life.

—Albert Camus