Practice will make PERFECT 👌

 Practice will make Perfect

My daughter Kalpa, suggested we watch a Netflix documentary on David Beckham and so we did. David Beckham is a former professional footballer and former captain of the British team. His accolades are long and quite impressive. He has won 19 major trophies in his career, and is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries. His signature style of bending a ball is stellar, hence the phrase “Bend it like Beckham”. He could kick the ball so it would curve around obstacles making it hard for goalkeepers to track and catch. 

It is a very inspiring documentary but what struck me was his wife Victoria. A former Spice Girl (a British Girl band that was hugely popular in the 1990s and early 2000s), a fashion designer and television personality. The story of how Victoria stood with her husband through thick and thin was truly inspiring. She would grudgingly follow him as he played for various teams in various countries. She said she did not like football but she loved her husband and so she stayed committed to him through the ups and downs. 

Now get this: Victoria and David Beckham are not Christians. They are not born-again yet they have stayed committed to each other for 27 years!!! Watching the documentary, I was truly blessed to see that. 

Marriage IS God's idea and it works but it only does when we put in the work. If a couple that do not know God like we claim to do have kept their home together against all odds, what is our excuse? I said this last week - that marriage is hard work and it is hard work whether you are a Christian or not. Listen, a happy home is a wonderful investment. As you invest in the health of your home, your home gets healthier and stronger. As you invest love in your spouse and children, your home flourishes. As you work on yourself and become more understanding instead of always trying to justify your decisions and actions, it has a boomerang effect on your home. 

If you have children, they watch your interactions with your spouse and it begins to sow seeds in them of how the home is. The impact of that seed does not show until your children are grown and are about to start getting into relationships themselves. They unwittingly draw from what they have witnessed and experienced in their home growing up with their parents (you and your spouse); and often they will replicate what they have seen even when it is not what they want. 

If you are single and are reading this but grew up in an unhealthy home environment, determine that you will input fresh data into your mind and heart where marriage is concerned. Look for and follow inspiring stories of healthy marriages. Begin to master walking in the love of God in ALL areas of your life - at work, in church, in your neighbourhood and with members of your family. I have learnt that family members are the best practice ground for mastering walking in love!!! 

You cannot claim to be a Christian but be the colleague everyone avoids because of your holier than thou attitude. You are in the church choir and have a good voice but everyone walks on eggshells for fear of offending you. You need to work on your love-walk. Practice is needed and I daresay it is valuable practice that then yields immense and desirable results when you start a home of your own. You cannot be a cold and unapproachable person and miraculously transform into a loving spouse without practice.

Whether you are married or not, we all want happy, healthy homes so practice walking in love. Don't be known as the grumpy neighbour, the cold and unapproachable colleague at work, the sister who loves God but nobody else or the family member everyone avoids. Practice walking in love because it will boomerang and bless you later. 

It's all about practice and practice makes perfect and then nourishes the home.