Does your marriage need a little more grace?

From Les and Leslie Parrot... How to Bring More Grace into Your Marriage 09/02/2015 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 It’s common practice for a new website or software to go public in what is referred to as a “beta” version. When Microsoft, for example, launches a new system upgrade it will come out in beta before the “official” or final version is released. The idea of a beta site is it's still in test mode. In other words, it is available for the public to use, but with the understanding that you may find bugs in it. The site is not making any claims to have everything worked out to perfection. If you are a mature person, you don't get angry with a beta site if some aspect of its functionality is not doing what you think it should. You give a beta version plenty of grace and the site is counting on you to give grace. The same principle holds true in marriage. Think how much conflict, frustration, and friction we could avoid in our relationship if we treated each other as “beta spouses.” If we could remember that we are all a work in progress – ourselves as well as our partner – life would be exponentially easier.

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. --Anne Lamott So why don’t we do that? For many, the reason rests on an unrealistic level of perfectionism. And perfection was never meant for marriage. Of course, this does not mean we should not aim for high standards in our relationship or within ourselves. But there is a huge difference between perfectionism and excellence. Excellence is not attaining an impossibly out-of-reach goal. It has to do with living up to our potential. Everyone, no matter how lowly, has the potential to attain excellence in his or her life – but not perfection. When you wake up each morning, give yourself – and your partner – permission live in beta mode, surrounded with lots of grace. And if you insist on perfection, let it have to do with God’s power being made perfect in your weakness. Reflect and Respond What one trait or behavior in yourself would you like your partner to see as a “beta” version of you and why?