Welcome dear friend, we are sitting in the warmth of our Autumn sun today…under our flourishing Jacaranda tree introduced in Tree of life…
I have an interesting tea blend called Prince of Wales for us to try & I have baked a Date loaf, sliced & spread with lashings of real creamy butter for our treat
Well now we have our tea, treats & are settled under the Jacaranda, let’s begin our reflection.
Dates of a different kind
My husband & I have just celebrated our wedding anniversary.
The other day we went for a drive out to where we had our first date, it was through the beautiful mountain range of this area.
We took a picnic, just like that first date & chatted about the years we’ve been married as we drove, remembering the many challenges we have faced, how we have grown together in those challenges & what our dreams are for the future.
This is called relationship, spending quality time together, chatting about past, present & future dreams.
Seeing where we have grown & what areas we still need to grow.
Raising issues for discussion before they become contentious is all important.
You see I believe where a relationship really reveals itself is behind closed doors.
Where only the two dwell, away from other eyes.
Where mutual respect, kindness, gentleness, dignity, consideration for each other & in how one speaks to the other is truly found or not.
Marriage is a relationship of equality
For marriage should always be a relationship of equality within the differing roles of marriage & mutual love demonstrated.
“For this is true relationship; being kind, considerate, gentle, loving, caring & in giving each other dignity! It should never be controlling & abusive in any way what so ever!”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Refer
You see God Himself does not control anyone in relationship to Himself, He has given each one of us the freedom of choice in relationship to Him, we are free to choose to have that relationship with Him through His Son Jesus or not!
Thought to ponder;
If God does not control anyone in relationship to Himself. Then what right does anyone think they have to control another in a relationship?
Getting back to our picnic, we sat & ate our lunch looking out over the most picturesque quaint little country village.
We dreamed & planned together, we chatted about our desires for the future individually & as a couple.
We wondered where God would lead us & discussed where we are in Him at the moment.
As we drove home, we felt at one with each other in Him, having renewed those all important bonds of relationship, friendship & love.
Really listening to our partner
It takes time to listen to your partner, to give them our undivided attention, to see where they are coming from, to really enjoy their company & to appreciate them for who they are.
The person you fell in love with & to be able to see where you both are within your relationship presently.
Make time to do this often & you won’t be disappointed!
Note; If you are being controlled & abused in any way in your relationship, please seek professional help as soon as possible, you need to protect your physical, mental & spiritual wellbeing!
A professional can help you with strategies to address the situation safely.
While your partner either gets the help they need (if they seek it) or lives with the consequences of their behavior apart from you.
God does not expect anyone to live in a relationship that is controlling & abusive, ever!
Well, with the delightful tastes of the tea still lingering & as the Sun has moved its warmth now give, its time to go inside!
Until next time dear friend…
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or
In Prayer
© 2018 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photo on Pexels.com
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Tea With Jennifer 
Fall is my favorite time of year and so glad to share this visit! I finally get a slice of your date nut bread! Once again you never disappoint with your writing, and your thoughts are so well expressed. I was once in a marriage where I felt controlled and basically had no voice. I put up with it for quite a few years all the while trying to make it work as best I could. Twenty-four years later I am married to a man who is kind, loving, treats me as a partner, always takes care of me, we pray together and never take each other and our love for granted – although we are not perfect, and we do make mistakes – I believe it is the kind of marriage that makes God smile. Now I am off to read your other seasons of life! Blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing about your lovely marriage with us & I’m glad you enjoyed my Date loaf 😉.
It sounds as though we have been on similar paths my friend.
I’m glad you too were brave & left that abusive relationship, that takes great courage, great courage indeed! Bless you!
Happy Anniversary, Jennifer! And this is wise advice, “This is called relationship…spending quality time together, chatting about past, present & future dreams…seeing where we have grown & what areas we still need to grow in…raising issues for discussion before they become contentious…is all important.”
Thank you Lisa! ☺️
Hi Jennifer! I found you on the blog link up through Lauren and Maree. What a quaint and thoughtful post! I’m definitely going to give your reminders a try today while my husband and I spend a car load of time together driving across the state. Thanks for your post!
You’re most welcome Katie! I pray you have a safe trip 🤗