Growing Together

I strongly believe that, in a relationship, you can make two choices.  You either grow together or you grow apart.  I have been infinitely blessed by being able to grow together with my husband.  We do our best to work as a team and learn from each other as we can.  
Do I listen to him when he corrects something I do or makes a suggestion to me? Oh yes, of course, 100% of the time without fail I wish I could say that I did, but I do not.  Many times, I am so convinced I am correct about something that I cannot possibly see how he could be right.  Thanks to the grace of God, I often come around later on, when my emotions or pride are no longer blurring my vision, and I can see his point of view.  Sometimes, it takes me noticing something that another person is doing to realize when I was wrong.  Likewise, there are things that I want him to realize when I want him to realize them, but he doesn't.  But that's OKAY because I have faith that he will see certain things in time (which he has in certain areas) just as I haven't realized things he'd want me to realize right away.  
I believe that strong relationships have to take understanding and realizing the other person is just human.  ALL humans do things that are foolish and ridiculous.  That's why the Bible compares us to sheep! We'd run into our own trap if left to our own devices.  And I cannot tell you how listening to my husband and growing with him reminds me of that. 
 I will start talking to him about something and he will quickly stop me to say, "Rebecca, that's gossiping.  Why do you care so much about their lives?" And I will shut up and realize that I was wrong.  Other times, he will calm me down when I start to get frustrated or upset with a situation.  In the same way, I try to calm him down when he starts to get upset.  But, again, we are all human and we all will do these things.  The important part of it is to learn from them and thank God for his constant grace and patience with us.
Every day I pray that God will allow us to grow together and never apart.  I love my husband and I know he loves me.  Life WILL bring us challenges and we often will not get things the way we want them.  But having things the way you want them does not build character.  
The key to contentment is being happy no matter what you're given...no matter what your circumstance.  Yesterday, I did not want to leave my husband.  I was SO HAPPY being with him nonstop and I had missed him so much while we were apart.  Yet, I knew the time had to come to and end as I had to go back to work.  I felt like just leaving my job so I could be with him.  But the thing is that certain things have to happen even if we don't want them to.  And I need to thank God for the things we are given as we're given them.  No amount of money, nice house, or situation brings happiness.  It comes in the heart.  I am remembering to be thankful for what I am given when I am given it.  And I am grateful to have a husband who grows with me.
Tonight, I was with my in-laws and they were talking about how much their son has changed in just one year.  They didn't know me awhile back, but they'd say the same thing about me.  My mom says that he and I complement each other well.  We do.  We have learned to grow from each other, encourage one another, as well as challenge one another regularly.  And I believe that is what has helped us to grow together as we have.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13