My husband has taken it upon himself to be my breath police because sometimes I struggle with halitosis. When in public he may warn me: “Baby, your breath is really strong. Be careful when talking to people.” Isn’t he so nice and helpful?
I’ve tried many products over the years. The latest winner comes with a dual pour spout that allows the 2 solutions from separate sides to mix as poured. My only complaint was that EVERY time I used it, I would spill it all over the place. I kept threatening to reach out to the manufacturer, “Can’t you design a bottle that doesn’t spill all over the place?”
Apparently it was really working because I have not received even one citation from the breath police since using this product.
So one day, he said “I think I’m going to give your mouth wash a try.” Before I could warn him about the flaw in the bottle he had already started pouring. I noticed he poured it different than me and I was quick to let him know, “You’re doing that wrong.” But as the words were coming out I was also realizing he didn’t have any spillage. Because he was doing it right. I had been pouring it backwards all along.
The malfunction was not in the design of the product. The malfunction was in the user! It was so simple! Why had I not realized I was pouring it backwards? Why had I suffered through it so many times without thinking about flipping the bottle around to pour from the other angle?
Sometimes we just need someone to show us how it is done.
My husband adores me yet sometimes I find myself wanting to complain to the manufacturer: “God, there is something wrong with him.” We sometimes have leakage problems. Instead of love pouring out it looks more like sin in the form of anger, bitterness, or selfishness.
Titus 2 says the older women are to teach the young women the following :
…to love their husbands
…to love their children
…to be discreet
…to be chaste
…to be homemakers
…to be good
…to be obedient to their own husbands
If the older women are to teach the younger women the above behaviors then clearly they are learned behaviors. Perhaps like me, you are in need of further development in one or two of the above. I’m closely watching the older (more mature in their faith) women to learn.
Sometimes all we need is having someone go before us and show us how the mouthwash is to be poured!
Who do you have in your life to watch and learn such behaviors?
Copyright©2016, Gloria Stucky
“Beautiful Girl Using Mouthwash. Isolated On White” from FreeDigitalPhotos.net.