Day 94: A Prayer for 2012

For my 94^th act of love, I composed a prayer for us for 2012:

I pray, Father, that in 2012 you would increase my wife’s and my love for you, for each other, and for others. May we love and desire you above all else. Help us to hate evil and cling to good (Rom. 5:9). I pray that our love would bring unity to our marriage, and that we would cast enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy far from us. May we live by the Spirit (Gal. 5:20).

Work love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control into our hearts (Gal. 5:22-23).  May we be patient, kind, humble, slow to anger, others centered, and forgiving (I Cor. 13). Help us live in purity of thought and action (I Thess. 4:3-5). I pray that we would continually dwell on those true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things (Phil. 4:8).

As you work love into our hearts, I pray it would overflow in the giving of ourselves—our time, energy, money, etc.—to those in need. I pray that we’d look to each other’s interests as well as the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). May we be children of God without blemish, shining as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15).

I pray that we would not lose heart, but would press on by your grace in 2012 (Phil. 3:14). In all this, may we please and glorify you (I Thess. 4:1). Amen.

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Day 93: Some Reflections on 2011

I fell a little behind over New Year’s, but I’m back. For my 93rd act of love, I wrote you this letter reflecting on 2011. I put it on the bathroom sink for you to find:

Hi Honey,

2011 was a great year for our marriage. We had fun together (we always have fun together). We laughed–a lot! We had some romantic moments. And we loved each other, though imperfectly. I’m so glad that we journeyed through this year together.

But not everything was good in 2011. At one point, you rightly noted that I’d basically stopped doing romantic things for you. I agreed. And at the time, I thought my lack of romance was one of the major problems in our relationship.

Since then, I’ve realized that it was simply a symptom of the major problem—my own selfishness. When I opened my eyes to this, I began to notice other ways in which my selfishness played itself out. It became evident to me that I consistently placed my own interests above yours and that this negatively impacted our marriage.

So, I decided to change. For the latter part of 2011, I attempted to be more romantic with you. I attempted to be less irritable, more patient, more understanding. In short, I tried to place your interests above my own. I’m still the same guy, but I think I’m changing. Praise God for that.

As I look ahead to 2012, I want to continue in my resolve to love you more. I want to be more romantic. I want to live with you in an understanding way. I want to treat you with respect. I want to value our relationship above all my other human relationships. I want to keep my thoughts and my way pure by having eyes for you alone. I want to be patient with you. I want to care for you.

I love you. May I love you in 2012.

Sincerely,

Your Husband