Day One: Love is Patient.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. -Ephesians 4:2

"Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes. And that's where your dare will begin."

"The irony of anger toward a wrongful action is that it spawns new wrongs of its own. Anger almost never makes things better. In fact, it usually generates additional problems. But patience stops problems in their tracks. More than biting your lip, more than clapping a hand over your mouth, patience is a deep breath. It clears the air.. It is a choice to control your emotions rather than allowing your emotions to control you, and shows discretion instead of returning evil for evil."

"Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so, you are spreading poison rather than medicine."

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. -Proverbs 14:29

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute. -Proverbs 15:18

"Patience is where love meets wisdom. And every marriage needs that combination to stay healthy."

"Patience helps you give your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails."

For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

Did anything happen today to cause anger toward your mate? Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?


I didn't actually have a lot of opportunity to accomplish my dare today. There were a few times that he got on my nerves and I didn't actually handle it very well. I'd like to extend this to tomorrow and see how it goes. Cody isn't actually the one in our marriage who makes the most mistakes.. but he does require a lot of patience when it comes to wanting my attention or for me to laugh at him.