Day 7: Getting Hit by the Same Train

 What kind of an idiot does that? Bad enough to get hit by a train once. But wouldn’t the pain of that keep you from getting too close to the edge again?

Judgmental headline reading comes easy to me. This story provided low-hanging fruit.

The specifics don’t matter now. It’s the pattern that stands out. 

Over and over and over again. Same result.

“What kind of an idiot repeatedly steps across the edge to be hit by a train, you ask? Who doesn’t learn from pain when they experience it? Those are great questions—for you!”   

How often do I get hit by the same train in my own house? Same sloppy words. Same defensive posture. Same behavior that creates the same negative result. 

I had to think: Instead of using my energy to judge the dude who kept running into trains, maybe ask God to help me start avoiding some of my own. 

But God, can’t I at least ask, who gets hit twice by a REAL train? 

Action points:    

What’s one marital “train” you’d love to avoid in the future?    

What are the common elements to the pattern? (Feel free to gently ask your spouse for their ideas, especially if you’re feeling clueless.)    

What foolish behavior will you purposefully, prayerfully avoid in the future?

Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness

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