Marriage Medication That Works - Part 2
Health enthusiasts inform me that we are what we eat, and as such our physical diets will determine how healthy we become. Similarly, if you feed your minds with rubbish then your mind cannot produce what is pleasant. A healthy mind always produces healthy behavior.
Last week I began to look at ‘medication’ for your mind, and I discussed that when used consistently, can help you, your spouse and family to be in the pink of mental health. in your family relationships.
As I said last week, the medicine is written in God’s prescription manual, the Bible in Philippians chapter 4, verse 8, “… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” In the last article I wrote about the first three doses of medication; today I will examine the last three.
The forth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is pure …”. The word pure within this context conveys the concept of an individual conducting him or herself in a non-corrupt way both in private and in public. Living a life of integrity and uprightness today seems to be frowned upon by some as an impossible dream to realize. God freely offers the medication of purity to combat the disease of corrupt thinking and behavior. I encountered a husband who publicly and candidly spoke of his life of open unfaithfulness and corruption. He said that one day he made a decision to accept and daily digest God’s medication of purity and it miraculously transformed his mind-set and his marriage. Making a decision to live a life of purity can be made simple with God’s help and grace. Meditate habitually on what is pure.
The fifth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is lovely…”. To wake up every day and think about lovely things in spite of all the unlovely things around you, calls for great effort. I remember a couple who presented nothing but negatives about each other and were prepared to use them as trump cards in their dash for divorce. I got them to make a list of ten positive qualities they had seen in each other. They returned with more than ten lovely characteristics that they never took time to express and affirm. That exercise made a world of difference in their lives and marriage. The couple is still allowing their minds to absorb the medication of lovely thinking. If you major on the negatives in your partner, or in your children, you may miss some lovely gems that if discovered and affirmed can give much joy and happiness to your family relationship. Meditate habitually on what is lovely.
The sixth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is admirable…”. This medicine of admiration, means more that taking a hurried physical glance at the individual you love. It involves optimistically inspecting and analyzing the individual’s spirit, their way of thinking and emotions. You can always find something that is less than admirable within those who are close to you. However, endeavor to make it a daily exercise to seek out and admire those qualities in your loved one which may generate laughter, pleasure, security, stability and other precious nuggets. Years ago I listened very keenly to a wife speak of how she consistently admired her husband’s depth of inner strength and uncompromising character, which she said gave her hope and peace throughout the years. She did not fail to make her admiration known both publicly and privately. This wife’s husband later chime in with glowing praise for the admirable qualities that his wife consistently portrays and how uplifting it was for him. The medication of admiration was working for this couple. Go and do likewise. Meditate habitually on what is admirable.
Daily ingesting all the capsules and enrich your marriage and family life. Put them to the test.
Haynesley Griffith
Marriage and Family Life Consultant
griffitharticles@gmail.com
Last week I began to look at ‘medication’ for your mind, and I discussed that when used consistently, can help you, your spouse and family to be in the pink of mental health. in your family relationships.
As I said last week, the medicine is written in God’s prescription manual, the Bible in Philippians chapter 4, verse 8, “… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” In the last article I wrote about the first three doses of medication; today I will examine the last three.
The forth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is pure …”. The word pure within this context conveys the concept of an individual conducting him or herself in a non-corrupt way both in private and in public. Living a life of integrity and uprightness today seems to be frowned upon by some as an impossible dream to realize. God freely offers the medication of purity to combat the disease of corrupt thinking and behavior. I encountered a husband who publicly and candidly spoke of his life of open unfaithfulness and corruption. He said that one day he made a decision to accept and daily digest God’s medication of purity and it miraculously transformed his mind-set and his marriage. Making a decision to live a life of purity can be made simple with God’s help and grace. Meditate habitually on what is pure.
The fifth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is lovely…”. To wake up every day and think about lovely things in spite of all the unlovely things around you, calls for great effort. I remember a couple who presented nothing but negatives about each other and were prepared to use them as trump cards in their dash for divorce. I got them to make a list of ten positive qualities they had seen in each other. They returned with more than ten lovely characteristics that they never took time to express and affirm. That exercise made a world of difference in their lives and marriage. The couple is still allowing their minds to absorb the medication of lovely thinking. If you major on the negatives in your partner, or in your children, you may miss some lovely gems that if discovered and affirmed can give much joy and happiness to your family relationship. Meditate habitually on what is lovely.
The sixth dose of medication for the mind is “whatever is admirable…”. This medicine of admiration, means more that taking a hurried physical glance at the individual you love. It involves optimistically inspecting and analyzing the individual’s spirit, their way of thinking and emotions. You can always find something that is less than admirable within those who are close to you. However, endeavor to make it a daily exercise to seek out and admire those qualities in your loved one which may generate laughter, pleasure, security, stability and other precious nuggets. Years ago I listened very keenly to a wife speak of how she consistently admired her husband’s depth of inner strength and uncompromising character, which she said gave her hope and peace throughout the years. She did not fail to make her admiration known both publicly and privately. This wife’s husband later chime in with glowing praise for the admirable qualities that his wife consistently portrays and how uplifting it was for him. The medication of admiration was working for this couple. Go and do likewise. Meditate habitually on what is admirable.
Daily ingesting all the capsules and enrich your marriage and family life. Put them to the test.
Haynesley Griffith
Marriage and Family Life Consultant
griffitharticles@gmail.com