Margin – Its Effect on My Spouse

Ever wonder why your relationship with your spouse seems “off”? I don’t mean you’re fighting and at each other’s throats. It just seems “off.” You know what I mean, she says something and you wonder where it came from, or what she meant by that. You say or do something in innocence and it is taken in a completely unexpected way. This feeling of being “off” can be evidence of a lack of margin in my life. When our margins gets pushed and starts to shrink, it is the people who are closest to us who feel the pinch first. Those everyday conversations and the time that is spent so that you are both on the same page heading in the same direction begin to disappear, and all of a sudden what is a simple exchange turns into something “off.”

Learn to notice the signs that your margin is starting to shrink. Ask your spouse and those closest to you to help you identify the drift in your life. Take some time with your spouse to talk through your margins and what happens to you when they get too small. Have the conversation before you feel “off,” so the emotions are not charged and high. Regular maintenance of our margins is a great defense against unhealthy relationships.

-Pastor Tim