Day 3

*Newcomers, there is no reason you cannot pick up and start today. Even if you do not believe in my religion [Christianity] or ANY religion, applying these principles and accepting these dares will change your marriage.

How did you do with Day 2's act of kindness?

Day 3 is to be completed February 4, 2009
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another
as more important than yourselves."
-Philippians 2:3

(After reading that verse, I am a little nervous about today's lesson!)

The culture around us teaches us to focus on our appearance, feelings, and personal desires to the top priority. The goal, it seems, is to chase the highest level of happiness possible. The danger from this kind of thinking, however, becomes painfully apparent once inside a marriage relationship. If there were ever a word that basically means the opposite of love, it is selfishness. Unfortunately, it is something that is ingrained into every person from birth. You can see it in the way young children act, and often in the way adults mistreat one another. Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I truly want what's best for my husband/wife?
• Do I want them to feel loved by me?
• Do they believe I have their best interests in mind?
• Do they see me as looking out for myself first?

Whether you like it or not, you have a reputation in the eyes of those around you, especially in the eyes of your spouse. But is it a loving reputation?

Today's Dare..Can you handle it??
Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It's hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."

(You don't have to go cash in all of your savings..it could be as simple as his/her favorite pack of gum)