Good Morning Girls!  Today we are asked to make a sacrifice for our spouse in order to fulfill a need they have.  I have been asking Tom almost daily if there is something I can do for him, but the answer is usually something like "nope" or "find me a buyer for this listing".  Oh criminy, I typed this with the intent of showing that there is nothing I can do for him.....but now I suddenly "feel" a voice within me saying "Is there anything you can do to help him in his business?"  Ugh....I was not hoping to go down this road.  I worked for Tom before, that is how I met him!  I am not sure that I can work for him again.  It's really hard when your boss is your spouse.  You can't really come home and say "my boss is such a jerk!" (not that I would ever say that) 
I have friends who work for their spouse.  They suddenly call and say "I need you to do this, this, and this, and I need it done like right now".  I am not sure how they do this without getting irritated (actually, they do get irritated sometimes).  I don't know how they can do this without letting it carry over into their home life.  I heard Joyce Meyer say yesterday that God gives you the grace to do whatever you are called to do.  That must be the case for those who are called to work with their spouse.
I now feel convicted to at least inquire of Tom if there is some way I can get involved in his work.  I promise I will say it as if I really would like to.  I will not say it in the way we say things when we want to offer our services but at the same time make it clear that we really hope they say no.  I will talk to him tonight.  By the way he just peeked in the office.  I asked him if there was anything I could do for him today.....he said "nope" and walked away.
I believe what Tom needs more than anything right now is encouragement and reassurance.  I know a lot of men tie their identity to their work.  Tom does this 100%.  He is his work.  Now that the market is in recession it is like he loses himself a little more each day.  Just 3 years ago he was on track to meet all of his life goals.  Now he will have to start all over again.  I can not imagine what that feels like.  It would be like if I went to wake Charley up for school and suddenly she was a newborn again.  Sure, this would be sweet at first, but then I would think "oh no, I have to go back to the sleepless nights, the diapers, and losing the baby weight all over again?"  Maybe that's a bad example, but hopefully you get what I am trying to say.
I think it's time for me to not only pray for Tom, but pray for him in front of him.  I don't know why this is embarrassing for me, but it is.  I feel like he will think "now what is she doing?".  Not because he doesn't believe in prayer, he prays over the kids every day.  We simply have never prayed over each other in front of each other.  I believe it is time for Tom to hear the requests and confessions I have been praying for him.  It is time he hears what I believe he is empowered to do, anointed to do and blessed to do.  I believe it is time for him to hear the requests of my heart for him.  So girls, that is what I will do......and then I will ask him about the work thing.......

Assignment:
What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life right now?  Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part?  Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

Questions:
How much of your mate's stress is caused by your lack of concern or initiative?  When you expressed a desire to help, how did they receive it?  Are there other needs you could meet?

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Love you all-
Jen