55 THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR MATE’S PERSONALITY

Often couples are initially attracted to one another by the unique personality of the other person. As time passes, however, the very uniqueness that attracted them now become an irritant that threatens to divide and create strife.

Our personalities are often the sandpaper that God uses to smooth our mates’ rough edges. We have observed how the irritation of sand can produce a pearl in an oyster. God is producing something precious in your marriage as your personalities “rub against” one another.

Value your mate’s extroversion while your spouse respects your introversion.

Learn from a spouse’s visionary preferences as that mate benefits from your focus on details.

Benefit from your spouse’s feelings and emotion when you can get beyond your thoughts and logic.

Enjoy a mate’s spontaneity even as your spouse will be helped by your organization and structure.

Try this: Take a personality inventory or temperament survey. A valuable resource is Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey. Share with your mate what traits you cherish and value in their personality.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Rom. 15:7 NIV