NEVER Put Your Fine China in the Microwave (A Message On Marriage)

When we were young and early on in marriage, I loved using our fine china whenever I had a chance. But that was not often. One day I remember I wanted to reheat my coffee. I had my fine china tea cup all ready to go, popped it into the microwave and waited. It did not take long, after only just a few seconds I heard an awful popping noise and looked over to see sparks flying off of the silver lining on my mug!

As quickly as I could, I sprang over and opened the microwave door.

NEVER put your Fine China in the microwave!

Lesson learned!

So, on Sunday we had about 33 people over after Seana was baptized. I brought out my fine china tea cups and placed them by the coffee machine for anyone who wanted some coffee. This morning, as I prepared a cup of reheated coffee for myself I saw the fine china drying on the counter top and it hit me... NEVER put your fine china in the microwave. God spoke to me immediately. He said: Abi, this is a metaphor for your marriage. You cannot rush something that is beautiful and you can't treat idly something that is of great value and made with incredible detail and intricate and delicate design. You must treat it as the valuable treasure it is! You must treat it with gentle, patient, care.

When I consider how I treat my fine china, I remembered too that I cannot put it into my dishwasher either. I always wash each piece by hand. Carefully, gently, slowly.

This is how God wants us to treat our marriages.

Be patient. Beauty and value deserves patience and time. Do not rush through the work and effort and time marriage takes. Don't microwave.

Be careful. Treat marriage with dignity and value.

Protect it, be gentle with it. Handle it with care.

This is what Jesus desires of marriage, that we treasure it and value it and protect it. Jesus says marriage is designed by God. He said it was meant to be a representation of our union with Him! That is why Rick Warren says it is demeaned, discouraged, ridiculed, redefined and dismissed by our culture today.

I have been so humbled and honored all at once to be asked to speak again this coming year at Friendship Circle in February. I've been asked to speak on marriage. Last time I spoke there I spoke about our body and Gods desire for us to be His Temple! I so appreciated the prayer support I had leading up to sharing that message. So, I want to humbly ask that if you're reading this today that you would pray.

Pray for protection on my marriage as I prepare to speak.
Pray for the marriages that will be impacted by what God has to speak through me.
Pray God lays His Words on my heart and that I adequately speak His truth.

Thank you and may God bless your marriage in a special way today! May we treat them as they fine china they truly are!