The Key Of Acceptance I

‘“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, 
 and flesh from my flesh! 
She will be called ‘woman,’
 because she was taken from ‘man’ Gen.2:23

The second key to having a great relationship whether married or single is the key of acceptance. Adam had never seen a woman before. Eve was the first woman he set his eyes on, yet Adam saw Eve and he said ‘at last – bone of my bone’. Meaning Adam accepted Eve totally. For some people, God has brought them Eve but their heart is sent on sampling other options. We have to learn to accept the people that God has put in our lives. And it comes from us accepting ourselves first. Someone who is confused and preoccupied with whether he/she is too short, too fat, or not beautiful will find it difficult to accept others. The reason is that he/she will view all his/her relationships through that same lens. But regardless of whether married or single, business or professional – the grass always looks greener on the other side. Sometimes when you go closer to the other side you find out that the grass is even drier than where you were coming from. There was a lady who used to consistently nag at her husband and call him horrible names. I heard her call him a monster several times. Eventually, they had to go their separate ways. When this happened she began to lament that she lost a good man. Did she have to wait for things to get this bad before realizing that she had a good man? Listen, accept the people that God has put in your life – accept them! What does it take? Just accept them.

At premarital counseling class I say to the soon-to-be couples, on your wedding night when your wife undresses whatever you see is your portion. Just say – it is my portion. There was a man that almost wrecked his marriage because he told his wife that her stomach was too big and flabby. That woman would never undress in front of you again – never. I say to them, look well and say to yourself – this is my portion. There is nobody that is totally accepted that does not become his or her best. When your spouse is totally accepted you get the best from him/her.

Prayer: Father, show me how to accept and honor the people that You have brought into my life, in Jesus Name.