Has anyone ever said that to you? Well, my hubby says it to me. Can I tell you that when he tells me to kiss your mad spot, that it is the LAST thing I want to do. He says it right after he has done something to totally irk me. What? Did you think that I am this perfect, submissive, godly wife that never gets irked or irritated? HA! Think again.
I will be quite honest in saying that I struggle frequently with being able to do as commanded by Jesus in this particular area. You know what I mean. “Love your enemy.” “Bless those who curse you. Bless and not curse.” “Return goodness for evil. Overcome evil with good.”
Those are so easy to follow when all I have to do is pray for the terrorists. I can love Osama Bin Laden from afar. I truly can. I can summon up sympathy for his eternal soul. I can actually pray blessing upon the man. Okay. Okay. I admit sometimes I pray he is blessed with being caught and brought to justice. BUT it is far easier to love Osama from afar than it is to love my husband when he is being irritating, annoying, maddening, and simply ugly!
I don’t think it is dishonoring to say that my hubby can be perfectly sinful. I say that it is not dishonoring because we all know that everyone at any given moment can be perfectly sinful. We sin because we are sinners. We are not sinners because we sin. Semantics, maybe, but I believe a huge distinction. When my hubby is being sinful with me, for a time he has become my enemy. Now, now. Don’t get your nose all out of joint. I mean that deep within my heart I am at odds with him. I am thinking of myself. I am not thinking of him. I am like a wounded animal and my first instinct is to strike back. OR as every common wife does—pout!
Still, in the back of my mind, and sometimes in the very front of my mind, are images of me returning blessings for curses. Sometimes Jesus is sending the message quite loud and clear that it is to a man’s honor to over look an offense. I literally will hear specific ways in which I can turn around and bless my dear husband despite the words that wounded me, or the failure to act that frustrated me, or even just the personal habits that so unbelievably try me! And just as I am doing battle within myself—picture literally an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other, both trying to convince me their way is best—I hear from sweet hubby these words, “Oh, c’mon. Kiss your mad spot!”
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