What I Want to Say, But I Won't, Hopefully

So my dear, sweet husband has been gone for a week in Nicaragua. He helped lead a group of 27 high schoolers doing a kid's camp, street evangelism, restoring a school and visiting a refugee camp. He is coming home in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. I can't wait.

I think I read in a marriage book somewhere that it does not build into your marriage to greet your husband at the door with a litany of what went wrong during your day (or week). I mean, it's not like he went on vacation, while you were home slaving away.

So, dear blog readers, do mind if I vent a little to you all, and save my husband the rampage?

Hi Honey! How was your week? Great? Okay, good. We prayed for you everyday. Wanna hear about my week? It was great, too. Let's see, it rained every day, so that was kinda hard. We even sat in the basement one night past the kid's bedtime because of tornado sirens. The kids wanted to sleep with me every night so I wouldn't be lonely, which was sweet, but kinda cut into my chick flick watching time. Did I mention it rained a lot? Evelea said "it's like summer is terribly ill or something". The girl's running club was canceled every night. I had a super bad headache for 48 hours, I thought Therese had malaria and everyone's allergies acted up. Sorry you had to miss Sitota's birthday, Father's Day and our anniversary. Really, though, your trip was good?

Phew, I think I got it all out. Thanks, guys!

Romans 7:18

The Message (MSG)

^17-20But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

What I really want to tell my husband is how proud I am of the good work he did this week. How it was a privilege to sacrifice a bit on the home front for the greater good of the kingdom. That actually, having him out on the mission field on our anniversary, fulfills the mission statement for our marriage and I can't think of a better place for him to be on that day.

How my sin nature fights to get in the way and destroy the message I actually want to convey!

Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.

Proverbs 21:23

Only with God's help can I speak those life-giving words I want to say! My prayer today is that I hold my tongue and only speak His words. I'll let you know how it goes!