Okay guys. Lest you think this “Roses on Wednesday” thing might just blow over, here’s what my wife has to say about it.
Whether you are married, dating, about to… thinking of… or already getting a divorce, consider this view from the Fisch bowl: Just stop. Stop the complexity, and start making your life more simple. Buy your wife, your date, or your departing mate Roses on Wednesday.
“But, oh no!” you say, as though shocked that I would suggest such a simple form of manipulation. Yes, my dear. Yes. I will say it again – YES! Buy her Roses on Wednesday. Buy them on Wednesday, when things tend to be blue for her.
Seek out the lost, gentlemen, which starts within your home, which is your wife (or the woman you are dating, or the woman you let go). Don’t shy away. Instead, go deeper. Once in, bless them by praying for them, fellowship with them, care for them, and then when they ask, “What is this?” tell them the Kingdom of God is here!
Join the Lord’s system. You, my dear brother, must be convinced that God has a destiny greater and better than your present circumstances. She is God’s gift to you, and you are God’s gift to her. It is not just a truth we can grumble about; it is an attitude. Attitude always determines altitude. If you think you have married the wrong person, like Esther, choose to treat her like the right one, and she will turn into the right one. On the other hand, if you married the right one, yet treat her as the wrong one, she will turn into the wrong one. I suggest you declare right now that your mate (past, present or future) is God’s gift to you.
Embrace what God has given you, passionately. You must put your arms around her. Eat and drink what each has put before the other. So often, you have rejected her and she, you (verbally, or more than likely through the conversations you have with yourself in your head), pointing out the flaws instead of the hope that lies ahead.
Bring the kingdom of God to your marriage. Bless your marriage, whether it is alive, dead, or moved on. Embrace it, and bring to bear the power of God on the areas that require miracles. Once the kingdom is in place, it is bound to expand to your children, your neighbors, your community, and your jobs. I do not think it works in the reverse.
Loved today’s Catch – really very powerful. I believe it will have a profound effect on thousands of relationships. Will definitely take it to heart :).
Thanks and blessings on you for this life changing ministry!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!
However that is spelled ….BINGO!!! John Fischer!!!
You could save some people beaucoup dollars in therapist or lawyer fees with this one post!
Better yet …some SOULS! As Marriage is the image of God’s redemption to the world!
Thank you …..bet your wife is VERY thankful too !
Wonderful. Many things I needed to be reminded of regarding my marriage. Thank you.
Six years ago, my husband of 39 years died from pancreatic cancer. As I began to design our headstone, one of the things that I put on my side was a single long-stemmed rose. This is what he gave me so often, on many occasions. Always red, always a surprise, it seemed, yet it was his way of expressing his love and affection for me. I’ve had these years to reflect on our relationship….it wasn’t perfect, but it was long-lasting, and I am thankful for this man that the Lord gave me.
I love this idea. It will work IF her love language is ‘gifts’. However, according to the book, “The Five Love Languages,” by Gary Chapman, there are other things which might work for your wife which are better than roses.
The five love languages are Gifts, Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Physical Touch. If her love language is Acts of Service, perhaps YOU can make dinner tonight and surprise her by cleaning up all the dishes and the kitchen afterwards. Saying “You are an amazing woman and I am blessed to have you as my wife (girlfriend) will do wonders for someone with Words of Affirmation as her love language.
You could try going to the mall on Saturday with your wife/girlfriend and NOT checking the sports scores every three minutes – and also try paying attention to what she is looking at (without complaining) – even if she looks at everything in every store. It will blow your mind what it will do for a woman with the love language of Quality Time.
A woman with a love language of Physical Touch needs your attention in ways ‘she’ likes, not the ways ‘you’ like.
All of these are great ways to show your significant other what she means to you. Most people have two of these love languages. If you find that you are buying her lots of things to make her happy – and she doesn’t seem as thrilled as you are, try one of these other things. Or better yet, buy the book, take the survey together and find out what each of your love languages are – and then build your relationship from there.
In any event, spending more time paying attention to your significant other will change your relationship in wonderful ways.
Thank you for all you do, John.
THIS is why they’re called ‘the better half’… everybody chant now…MARTI WRITE THE CATCH! (and, you Know what a big fan of all things John i am…)
Maybe I just haven’t been listening all these times, but that is the first time I remember hearing the kingdom of God applied to marriage. Funny how what is so “near” theologically can still be far away practically. Good word. Thank you, Marti.
thanks John and Marti (mostly Marti):
what a great Catch today. I am getting married on November 20th (after 2 divorces) and this couldn’t come at a better time. My spouse-to-be is truly a blessing from God. I thank him everyday for her. She guided me to accept Christ 2 years ago on November 18th so this is now and will certainly be a very special time of the year for us. And both of you are truly a blessing to me everyday. thank you both for the inspiration and encouragement you give. have a blessed day.
Thank you, Marti, for this wonderful reminder – once again – I as a wife need to think about how I treat my gift from God.
Blessings on you both.
A while ago I heard Max Lucado tell about a neighbor he lived next to while going to seminary. He hit him with all the Bible knowledge he had and still – the guy would not make a decision to follow Christ.
One day, Max screwed up (as us guys do from time to time). He got flowers. Stood outside of his apartment window and sang; “I don’t bring you flowers. I don’t bring you love songs.”
A short time later, his neighbor became a Christian. Max asked him what it was that made him make his decision (he was curious which “argument” worked best). The guy replied that it was when he had flowers and was singing outside of the window. “If that is a Christian marriage,” he said, “that is what I want.”
Thanks for the encouragement – and challenge – John.
After reading this & digesting it for a few hours, I said to myself, “If the LORD Jesus had come to me in the flesh, sat down with me, & said what I needed to hear, it would not have more plain than this.” I got her a dozen roses today. It’s been a while. It’s not Wednesday but that’s OK.
Thank you Marti.
And there is yet another myth that needs to be busted. You make it sound as though every wife will respond positively to a husband’s persistent thoughtfulness and expressions of love. Unfortunately, it is possible for a wife to destroy her family. Proverbs 14:1 says: The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
TimC
I was subbing at my daughter’s school today when one of the office workers brought in a bouquet of flowers. “What? For me?” I was totally blown away to read the card .. “Thinking of you, have a great day, Mike” (yes, my husband). He could have waited til next week…he could have had them delivered to the house… But he had them delivered to the school. Thank you Jesus (and Marti) for your awesome words and influence! I just wish I could find a way to tell him honestly how much that meant to me. For now, he is working out of state (15 hours away) and we don’t get to see him except for every few months or so. I sometimes wonder if we will survive this time in our lives – why can’t God provide a job here? But after today my hope has been rekindled and my heart is overflowing.