How can one trashcan take peace away in a marriage? The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom, which means peace with God and peace between spouses. Peace is something that everybody wants and is looking for. We want to experience inner peace and contentment with where we are in life and how we see our marriage. When couples are overwhelmed with marital problems, they may lack the feeling of peace and fall into depression.
During one of my research projects, I noticed that putting out the trashcan was still an area of discussion between couples. Who is putting out the garbage? The war begins when the wife feels she must ask her husband to put the garbage out. The fact that she must ask might bring stress. But the fact that her tone is a certain way also brings a negative reaction from the husband. He might feel disrespected. Is this problem about the garbage or is it about how people feel?
The fact that the man can easily forget such a simple weekly task that is important for the woman makes the woman complain that she is not getting enough attention. In her heart, the problem is deeper than the trash. The wife feels not cared for, since she has to ask for such a small help.
How can this problem be solved to keep the peace in the house?
Women tend to want to feel seen and heard. If the man agreed to put garbage out, he should not forget it. The man should pay attention to the garbage can, throw it away before his wife complains about it, and keep the peace in the place.
Romans 12: 18 says, if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
The jewelry store doesn’t put their most expensive valuable diamonds in the showcase but in a save to secure them. When the thief comes into the store, they can’t break the showcase and take it quickly away. Peace is like a pure diamond that couples should keep and guard in their heart not to allow the thief to take it away rapidly.
Both the husband and the wife must remember and understand that the enemy came to kill, rob, and destroy, and he plans to bring disunity to the marriage. Couples have to be aware of this, keep him out of their marriage, resist him, and put God’s Word into practice. And throw that trashcan away, please.
