Weather. We depend on it for so much of our activities. Will we do this or that? It all depends on the weather. No one wants to eat outside when it’s too cold or too hot. Nor do we plan a picnic when it’s humid – anytime between June and November in Florida. We choose our activities based on the perfect weather conditions for it, don’t we? We can control what we choose to do based on the comfort level available.

In marriage we would do well to consider this truth.

What is the temperature in your home? A bit cold lately? This is not the time to discuss sensitive subjects. It’s best to warm up a bit by showing love and care towards each other. We can control the temperature by adjusting our attitudes and expectations. This goes both ways.

Oftentimes our greatest disappointments are because we expected too much and communicated too little.

Maybe things are really heated and you’ve discovered there are some topics where you just can’t agree. That’s when good friends are a needed asset, like a good weather forecaster.

Tom and I have recently come up against some differences of opinion on important things, but not crucial things. It really effects nothing more than our schedule to do it his way or my way. What we need is to come to a place where we can agree to disagree. Friends are great at bringing us to this resolve. They can ask questions in a way that makes us think of the other’s perspective. There really is no right or wrong answer, it is a matter of preference. And shouldn’t we prefer one another over our own desires? Especially the one we say we love the most?

What about you? How do you avoid tumultuous weather conditions? How do you navigate heated topics? Or how do you deal with the chill of neglect in your home? It all comes down to what we vowed in the first place. Didn’t we promise to love and cherish each other in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or worse? I think this post falls in the “or worse” scenario. No one likes to be too cold or too hot. Just ask Goldilocks (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) We prefer things to be just right. But when they aren’t? Don’t sulk and pull away. Phone a friend instead. They really are like a trusted weather forecaster who helps you prepare and avoid being caught in the elements. And maybe they will also bring the needed refreshment to cool a hot debate.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise.” – Proverbs 13:20a

What friends do you have that can help you with your marriage forecast?