Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It is a familiar quote and one repeated often. But the fact that is familiar doesn’t mean we are practicing Mr. Franklin’s advice.

When we were young and told to clean our rooms, putting this chore off had consequences. Not only did we have a messy room, but we had to face the punishment handed out by our parents. We disappointed them more than we realized. Sadly, many of us didn’t get it until we had children of our own.

In marriage it is much the same way, but differing in who it is we are disappointing. If our spouse has asked us to do something and we are regularly putting it off, what does that say about our commitment to the marriage?

Procrastination is selfish and goes against all that marriage is supposed to be.

If procrastination is selfish, then faithfulness in doing what you say you’ll do is the opposite. It communicates how important our spouse and their requests are to us. It could be as small as taking vitamins or making the bed everyday, or as big as fixing that dripping faucet.

Is there is something you have been putting off? Odds are good that if there is you know exactly what it is. Your lack isn’t due to forgetfulness. It is something that obviously isn’t important to you. Can I encourage you with a gentle nudge to grow up in this area? Don’t play into the scheme of the enemy by disappointing your spouse day after day.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” it says in Proverbs.

It is one thing to fail in doing what we were supposed to do as children; it is expected to some degree. After all, they are children. But as adults let’s put away childish ways and be faithful in the little things (and big things) in our marriage and in our home. It matters more than we know, and the consequences have lasting effects.

What is one thing can you do today to take that first step towards change?