05/29/2026
Today's devotion from the "Everyday Joy" book is called, "Learning to Accommodate" by Kristin DeMery.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18
Thunder rumbled down as rain pelted the windows. It was early on a Saturday morning, and - still half-asleep - I rolled over and whispered, "I love thunderstorms." My husband looked at me sleepily and smiled, then his eyes widened and he bolted upwards.
"I left the car windows open last night!" he fumed, jumping out of bed and racing outside. Following more slowly, I opened the garage door to see him exiting his car, soaked seats and dripping steering wheel a testament to how bad it was. Angry at himself, he went inside to calm down while I quietly gathered towels and headed out to the car to start wiping it down. After a few minutes, he joined me and we worked together silently to dry the interior.
As a young newlywed, that moment taught me a few things: that my husband needed time to decompress when he felt stressed, that holding my tongue is an important skill, and that if we could learn to accommodate one another in stressful situations, we could work together to solve problems peacefully.
Accommodating doesn't mean letting yourself become someone's doormat - instead, it helps us adapt to circumstances. Rather than insisting on doing things our way, accommodation offers a gentler, more merciful way of engaging with others for the mutual benefit of both.
After the car was cleaned up, we headed inside. In the literal calm after the storm, it was easier to talk about what had happened and reflect on our response.
Now, years later, my husband still teases me every time we hear thunder and see lightning. "I love thunderstorms," he'll say. I always smile at the reminder of how a source of strife instead became a running joke and a learning experience we've carried forward.
Is there anywhere in your marriage that you need to be more accommodating of your spouse and how God has wired them? What practical steps could you take to be more mindful of them?
