Guest Blog by Tzeitel Hirni

So blessed this week to have Sisterhood Evenings Coordinator, Tzeitel Hirni, guest blogging here! Tzeitel just recently started serving on the lay leader Sisterhood team but you might have also seen her in her part time staff position as Bookstore and Cafe Manager. Married to Jim and mother of precious daughter Caroline, Tzeitel always has a quick smile for everyone and a gentle Word. I am thrilled to feature her writing here and know that you will be blessed as well.

Oh, Love Dare, How You Elude Me So…
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

Forty days to a stronger marriage. Forty steps to loving your spouse even more. Forty chances to bring your spouse closer to you. So simple. Then why am I on my fifth attempt of The Love Dare?

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2In our master bath, hangs a single red light fixture. It was a Mother’s Day gift which unbeknownst to me my husband thought I wanted. The red fixture has nothing to do with the current state of our bathroom; never mind, that the bath has two light fixtures so it creates an uneven look to the room.

This fixture is a small example of miscommunication between a couple. My husband was proud of his present selection and in his effort to install it. As a wife, I missed the most important part of his gift – he knew I disliked the previous fixture and he is not the handiest of men; therefore this was an act of service for me.

Missing such a vital part of this gift brought me to The Love Dare once again. This 40 day love journey challenges us to reflect, demonstrate, and pursue our love for our spouses. Lets face it, marriage is a never ending roller coaster that we ride with each other and God. It is full of so many wonderful moments like the excitement of going up and up and then that funny belly dropping feeling that makes us scream. But then there are times, when the red light fixture surprises us and challenges our marriage.

I have been on Day 7 of The Love Dare for a week now. This dare challenges us to write positive things about your spouse on one sheet and negative things on another sheet. Then pick one thing about your spouse from the positive list and thank him for it. The answer for me is obvious, my husband wants to serve me and I need to acknowledge his desire to do that no matter how big, small, or not overly wanted the service.

As I add the finishing touches to this blog this morning, my husband has just delivered a fresh cup of coffee to me. Another act of service to be thankful to him and to God for providing.

So, ladies, lets challenge ourselves to complete the The Love Dare even if it takes us more than 40 days: lovedarestories.com