Support Coming alongside others and providing gentle, appropriate assistance with a problem or struggle. Galatians 6:2
A Worthy Goal: (a little “Truth in Love” from TBI)
Don’t stop investing wisely into your marriage and family until your children and friends envy your relationship and want what you have…. “faith expressing itself in love” – Galatians 5:6.
When you have trouble with your computer at work, your Tech Support team is called in to evaluate the problem and fix it. The truth is, we all need a little help to make it through the craziness of life! Who is the Support team in your life right now? What are you experiencing that you could use some extra Support? Let’s take some time this week to talk about Support, how your spouse can meet this need for you, and how you can express Support to your spouse.
Have a great week!
Sincerely, Dave Lewis
The Basic Idea Helping Leaders Live Loved and Give Love Freely….Starting at Home!
Set aside a few minutes this week or plan a date night to discuss SUPPORT. Husband, would you lead this time? Please be prepared to lead by reviewing the questions below. When ready, please initiate a “LOVE (Speak)” time.
LOVE (SPEAK) Light Source #1: Fresh Encounters with Jesus Christ
Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, was asked a question about Jesus’ willingness to pay taxes. The passage in Matthew 17:24-27 doesn’t indicate that Jesus even heard the question. Peter was asked. Jesus paid for his and Peter’s temple tax by sending Peter fishing. Pretty cool, huh! Does Jesus offer support and help for only people named Peter in the first century? Can you recall times when God’s support and help came to you? How about recognizing and expressing gratitude to Him for Support and coming alongside you when times were tough? Think that would be a way to “love the Lord your God with all your heart….”
Light Source #2: Frequent Experiences in the Word (Do The Book)
Let’s Do: Galatians 6:2
1. What seems to be one or two of the more difficult issues your spouse faces currently? Are there things at work, at home, with children, not having children, financial, relational, illness, or with extended family that would make the top 2 list?
2. What are ways you can come alongside and gently help him/her carry that load? Have you asked him/her?
3. A tension to manage is different from a problem to solve. A tension to manage involves recurring events, multiple methods of dealing with the situations, difficulty in fixing the problem because there may be no way to “fix it”. A problem to solve is just that….there is a discover-able solution that actually ends the problem so that it won’t come up again. A leaky faucet is a “problem to solve”. Managing your calendar or your budget is a “tension to manage”. How would knowing the difference between a “tension to manage” and a “problem to solve” help you discover ways to support your spouse by coming alongside and gently, appropriately help carry his/her load or burden?
4. How do you feel when your spouse asks you about the issues that you are currently facing and offers to help where possible? How would your expressed gratitude help open further conversations and lead to healthy ways of dealing with your own and your spouse’s most difficult issues?
Light Source #3: Other Jesus Followers – Have Real Fellowship with Your Spouse
Would you talk with each other about these items below and above during a date night or coffee time or just lying in bed?
5. Would you ask your spouse and allow him/her to tell you what he/she sees as the top-of-the-list issues? Remember to listen well and ask God to help you properly respond to the grief or sorrow or frustration expressed.
Please give each other opportunity to ask, listen, respond with care, and give support as needed and wanted
Now — What About the Kids? “Ask – Listen – Respond”
What would you imagine are some of the struggles your child faces? What have you observed, or what do you remember from being that age – what was hard for you during that time? Could it be that your children are feeling some of those same struggles, and may need your Support to get them through it?
One of the ways you can show Support to your child is simply to offer to help. It may be that there is something weighing on his heart and your question, “Is there anything I can help you with?”, might be just what he needs to hear to lighten his load! He may need you to pray for him, or he may need your tangible help. Can you imagine what your child might feel if he knew you wanted to help him, instead of you always asking him to help with household chores and such?
Support could also take the form of offering to help with a tough homework assignment with which your child is struggling or listening patiently to her after she’s had a hard day at school or being there as he/she practices the piano, plays baseball, or tries to read a book.
Meeting the need for Support will look different for each child, but having a heart that is alert to your child’s need for Support and is willing to help carry his or her load makes a huge impact in the life of a child. Take it from a child who knows. 🙂
Encouragement—It’s in the Book!!
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.