Editor’s note: The author explains her family’s Lenten commitment to take the Love Dare here . Regular updates will be posted all through Lent. Click here to catch up on previous posts. Due to CE staff scheduling, we will not be able to keep up with these posts daily, but we will make sure they are all posted, even though it means they run past Lent. ]
For day eleven, we decided to focus on filling an emotional need for another family member.
“Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies” Eph 5:28.
One of the things I enjoy about our family is our quirky sense of humor. It is something we share and although we often experience the rough side of family life (shouting, arguments, too much busyness), our sense of humor brings us back to the same side. It helps ‘Team Rosien’ overcome a lot of difficulties.
That humor became part of today’s dare. My oldest daughter started it when she quipped that if I got the mayonnaise out of the fridge for her it would fill an emotional need… and so it went.
Joking about our dare did not take away the opportunities to practice it. My sons took turns taking the puppy out for me (so I could help my youngest daughter with homework). They filled a need for me, while I filled one for her. I think that is the whole idea, doing the dare as a family has a trickle down effect. A kind word, a favor for someone, giving in during an argument, these things promote good will and harmony.
It may seem sad that we need reminders to do these things. Families often fall into ruts, treating each other without thought or kindness, or even worse, anger and meanness. I am glad the dare is reminding us how we should treat each other.
Lord, thank you for opening our eyes to opportunities to please each other. Thank you for my family’s wonderful sense of humor.
