Lessons Learned in 3D -- Reserved

My doctor left her practice, so today I made a visit to my new doctor — a Vietnamese physician that my husband has seen for years. As I drove to work afterward, I realized why this medic gets along well with my man. You see, what troubled me about the appointment was that my doctor was not “chatty.” I am a verbal person. This Cuban girl talks with her hands and tells long stories with many tangents. Dr. Le was all business. He spoke in monosyllables. My introverted husband finds the doctor’s reserved bedside manner very appealing. I might need a bit more convincing…

It always amazes me how people with different temperaments interact. Being an outgoing person married to a shy guy requires making some complicated dance moves — we are still learning the right steps. We are still learning each other’s rhythms.

Be encouraged this week as you rub shoulders with that “not like you” personality… Their strengths will meld with your weaknesses. You will learn to walk to the same beat if you stay on the dance floor. It’s worth the effort.

Here in no particular order are ten things this “chatty girl” learned from listening to others this week:

1. Apparently, Big Mama and I are on the same wave length this week. Last Sunday, I shared how God spoke to me about a light potentiometer, and yesterday, Melanie shared about “The Light of His Grace” over at Ann’s A Holy Experience blog:

“I don’t know if any of us

have the capability or the comprehension

to ever fully grasp the love of God. It’s too big.

But I know that the only way we’ll ever grow

and become what He has called us to be

is when we expose ourselves to the light.

That’s where we bloom.”

2. Laura at Missional Women helped me see how I could organize a prayer retreat for a group of friends. I love this resource: “Mosaic Prayer Experience.”

3. “I am not the Savior of the World” — Melanie at Unexpected “tells it like it is” in her post “Ten Things You Need to Know Before Going on a Missions Trip.”

4. I am learning that I need to build quiet space into my week to breathe new life into my spirit and to listen to God. I love these practical ideas about how to celebrate the Sabbath provided by Jean at Healthy Spirituality.

5. I was a single gal until I was in my early 40’s. One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me about looking for a mate was that “time is a great revealer of things.” You learn a lot about a guy by interacting with him in many settings and with many types of people. I am realizing now that this holds true for friendships as well. How do your friends treat others in their circle of influence? I love how Felicia explains this concept to singles in her post for Start Marriage Right.

6. Kristin at Moments in the Story wrote a beautiful guest post titled “Love and Cough Drops” for (in) courage that explained how we must put love into action. (If you are a mom, you will love the story she shares about her four-year old.)

7. Laura at The Wellspring reminded me that each new day is teeming with new possibilities — anything is possible. I love her post “When You Oughta Get Your Eyes Examined.” (Keep jumping, Laura!)

8. Angie Smith at Bring the Rain is one of my favorite writers. Reading her blog brought me a great deal of healing during a difficult season and inspired me to become a blogger myself. I love how she unpacks the phrase “The Joy of the Lord is my Strength” in her post for (in) courage.

8. Intimacy in marriage is fostered as I intentionally open up my heart, soul, mind, and spirit to my spouse. Samuel Rainey outlines “Three Ways to Grow Trust and Deepen Intimacy” in this helpful post for Start Marriage Right.

9. Kelly from Love Well describes how parents and Christian school teachers must leave room for kids to have their own unique way of approaching God. I love what she shares about how she parents in this guest post for Deeper Story:

“God is the good stuff, dear things.

I will not force-feed Him to you

to the degree that you no longer taste His sweetness.”

10. I am thankful I am no longer teaching high school. May is brutal on teachers, students, parents, and anyone within firing distance. I love how Jen captures the spirit of borderline insanity in her outrageously witty post “Worst End of School Year Mom Ever.”

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Q4U: What did you learn this week?

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