Opposites Attract.... Mostly

Mike and I are opposites in nearly everything.   The mystery surrounding the other person is probably one of the things that drew us to the other in the beginning.  But, as you can predict, these differences can cause some friction in our marriage.  I keep repeating the phrase I learned regarding cultural adaptation when I moved overseas, "It's not wrong, it's just different."

Well, today I was just wrong.  Not different.  Simply wrong.  Yesterday Mike asked me to help him.  It was an easy task for me.  I knew in my head what he needed to think through and talk about at an upcoming meeting.  I thought the exercise of writing an outline was a good idea, but since it wasn't something I needed, it never made it to the top of my ACTION list yesterday.  

This morning he seemed a little tense.  I thought that was strange, but when I was in the shower I remembered how I failed to follow through on what he asked me to do. (He asked for my help and my insight!  Hooray!)

But I didn't follow through. I didn't intentionally NOT help him out, but my oversight led to his tension.  He thought I didn't care about his meeting (I do!), or the way he's wired (I do!).  Mike asked me in my strength to help him in his weakness.  And I can imagine that it felt like I didn't take his request seriously or think it all that important.

Ugh!  After my shower I was faced with a few choices:  ignore the tension, laugh it off as no big deal, or invite Mike to tell me why he was so tense and REALLY listen to his response.  I chose the latter (hooray!) and then asked for his forgiveness.  I want Mike to know that I love and respect him through my actions.  And in the midst of my failure, I want him to experience my humility.