The Pains of Intimacy

by Publisher | Jun 16, 2024 | Relationship, Archives

The Pains of Intimacy

The Pains of Intimacy

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves, but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people. But when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and admire the other person’s good qualities, we get the best of one another. Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.

ALSO READ Racing Down the River

These are some of the lessons to be learnt from the pains of intimacy. Please take them to heart.

Meditation: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:22

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Devotional
The Secret of the Wealth of King Solomon (2)
Inspirational
Good Character
Testimonies
Back to Normal
Honouring God

Related

Daily Dew Calendar

Most Read

Archives

Other Dews

Daily Dew Spotlights

Daily Dew Devotional

Daily Dew Reflections

Daily Dew Testimonies

God’s Cover Letter (2)

BELOW IS MY RESUME… GOD Everywhere All over, Every Place ~ Phone: (123) 456-PRAY EXPERIENCE: From the beginning of time. Before the beginning of time. From everlasting to everlasting. I made time. ABILITY: All Powerful PRIOR EMPLOYMENT: Created the universe, put the galaxies in place, formed man. Established heaven and earth by My spoken Word, and I am currently holding up the world by My power. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: I AM and I have all the knowledge. CHARACTER REFERENCE: Love, light, and life (1 John 4:16, 1 John 1:5, John 14:6). A representative, but by no means conclusive list of other character traits follows: Wisdom (James 1:5), Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), Truth (John 8:32), Healer (1 Peter 2:24), Strength (Phil. 4:13), Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Provider (Phil. 4:19), Mercy (Ephesians 2:24), Good (Matthew 19:17), Peace (Romans 14:17). AVAILABILITY: Willing and ready to take over your life. Able to put your life together again. Will bring all of who I AM into your life. Can start now. SALARY REQUIREMENT: Work in your life has already been paid for through the blood of My Son, Jesus. Your only responsibility is to commit initially and on a daily basis. To trust and obey what Jesus has done and wants to do in your life. ALSO READ Learn to Appreciate the Struggles of LifeOther

;

God’s Cover Letter (1)

To Whom It May Concern…. I heard you were considering a new manager for your life. I would like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most qualified candidate applying. I am the only one who has ever done this job successfully. I was the first manager of life. I made all lives, so naturally I know how humanity works, and what is best to get people back into proper working condition. Hiring me will be exactly like having the manufacturer as your personal mechanic. If this is your first time considering me, I would just like to point out that my salary has already been paid by my son, Jesus on the cross of Calvary. This salary covers the time prior to my hiring as well as my present and future employment. If you decide to hire me, I will need to receive from you an acknowledgement that you erred in not hiring me sooner. I understand this is a strange requirement, but since you violated the manufacturer’s warranty by placing your being under inferior management, this is a necessary prerequisite to my engagement. Lastly, I will require a carte blanche (a blank check) to reorganizing and managing your life. I intend to make some major changes and revisions. They are not for you to worry

;

The Homeless Person

The parking lot filled rapidly on Sunday morning as members of the large church congregation filed into the church. As usually happens in a church that size, each member had developed a certain comfort zone – a block of space within those four church walls that became theirs after the second or third sitting. It was as much a part of their church experience as the recliner was to the television at home. Some of the older members had been sitting in the same row on the same side for several decades. A team of oxen could not have moved them to the opposite side of the church. One morning, a stranger stood at the edge of the parking lot near a dumpster. As families parked cars and piled out, they noticed him rummaging through the trash. “Oh no! I don’t believe it,” whispered a lady to her husband. “That’s all we need — a bunch of homeless people milling around here.” One worried little girl tugged on her dad’s sleeve. “But Daddy…” Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose baggy, outdated trousers and faded flannel shirt had dusted too many park benches. “Don’t stare at him, honey,” he whispered, and hurried her inside. Soft music filled the high-ceiling sanctuary as churchgoers settled into their usual spots. The

;

The Frog Race

There was once a bunch of tiny frogs, who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began… No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. They shouted, “Oh, way too difficult!!! They will NEVER make it to the top”, and “Not a chance. The tower is too high”. The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one except for those who, in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher…. The crowd continued to yell, “It’s too difficult! No one will make it!” More tiny frogs got tired and gave up… But one continued higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up! And he reached the top. Everyone wanted to know how this one frog managed such a great feat. His secret? This little frog was deaf!! The wisdom of this story is: Ignore the pessimism of others. It can take your dreams from you. Stay positive. Meditation: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 ALSO READ The

;

Thank You Lord For Life

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden. Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud. Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines, and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry. Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job. Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day, and wish my circumstances were not so modest. Thank you, Lord, for life. Meditation: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

;

Dear Child

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is a father of lies who will try to deceive you. He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to Me. He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you’ve been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless to turn back now. But guess what? YOU DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER. I AM. You see, you are My creation. My workmanship. You have been born of My thought, every part of you placed together by My hands. You have My thumbprint upon you. You are a princess, did you know that? You are My child, the daughter of THE King! I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have you and to be with you and call you my own. I already have. I have

;

The Bridge

There was once a bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river, paralleling the banks, allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river, allowing a train to cross it. A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening, as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train lights. He stepped to the control and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance before he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position, but, to his horror, he found the locking control did not work. If the bridge was not securely in position, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with many people aboard. ALSO

;

When I Speak Your Name in Prayer

I’d like to sit you down and tell you everything’s okay And have the strength enough to pull you through another day I’d like to help you to believe that this will be all right And that you will not have to spend another sleepless night I’d like to hold your hand and wipe the teardrops from your eyes And help you just to sort things out while you question why I’d like to try and lift the load and carry it for you And truly help you understand just what you’re going through I’d like to have the words to make this trouble disappear And give you peace of mind so you won’t shed another tear I’d like to have the magic touch to take away your pain And help you see the blue sky just beyond this blinding rain But sometimes what we say or do just cannot be enough To ease another’s passage through a trail so dark and rough There is one thing I know will help much more than I can say And rest assured that I will do it when I kneel to pray I will take your name before the Father as I seek His face And ask Him to enfold you in His arms of warm embrace There’s no one who can

;

My Busy Day

“Mommy, look!” cried my daughter, Darla, pointing to a chicken hawk soaring through the air. “Uh huh,” I murmured, driving, lost in thought about the tight schedule of my day. Disappointment filled her face. “What’s the matter, Sweetheart?” I asked, entirely dense. “Nothing,” my seven-year-old said. The moment was gone. Near home, we slowed to search for the albino deer that comes out from behind the thick mass of trees in the early evening. She was nowhere to be seen. “Tonight, she has too many things to do,” I said. Dinner, baths and phone calls filled the hours until bedtime. “Come on, Darla, time for bed!” She raced past me up the stairs. Tired, I kissed her on the cheek, said prayers and tucked her in. “Mom, I forgot to give you something!” she said. My patience was gone. “Give it to me in the morning,” I said, but she shook her head. “You won’t have time in the morning!” she retorted. “I’ll take time,” I answered defensively. Sometimes, no matter how hard I tried, time flowed through my fingers like sand in an hourglass, never enough. Not enough for her, for my husband, and not enough for me. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. She wrinkled her freckled little nose in anger and swiped away her chestnut brown

;

The Shoe Man

My alarm went off. It was Sunday again. I was sleepy and tired. My one day to sleep in. But the guilt I would feel. The rest of the day would have been too much, so I’d go and pray. I showered and shaved. I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat in a pew just in time. Bowing my head in prayer, I closed my eyes. I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own. I sighed with plenty of room on either side, I thought, “Why must our soles touch?” It bothered me, his shoe touching mine, but it didn’t bother him much. A prayer began: “Our Father… I thought, “This man with the shoes has no pride. They’re dusty, worn, and scratched even worse; there are holes on the side!” “Thank you for blessings,” the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet “Amen.” I tried to focus on the prayer, but my thoughts were on his shoes again. Aren’t we supposed to look our best when walking through that door? “Well, this certainly isn’t it,” I thought, glancing toward the floor. Then the prayer was ended, and the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang. His voice lifted the rafters, and his hands

;