WHEN IN "DOUBT, THROW IT OUT" A Poem

Long ago, I 'met' this couple, and had this poem. Today, someone emailed it to me, and said 'this sounds like things you have said!

That could be because at the time that their marriage was being healed, ours was having problems. I had said to someone that I felt like a broken radio tossed out, or a disposable towel, used and thrown away. Others began to use very similar analogies, and depending on when the Phillipps' wrote this, I may have seen or heard it at one of the Stander's kinds of Conferences I had attended in those days. For sure, since the copyright date is 1987, it was the time that we were attending. It may have been in some of their information I picked up, or they may have read it. I had the privilege of meeting them, though I am but one of MANY that they have met over the years, and there would be no rememberance of it for them, I am sure.

I also had/have (if still have it, it is packed yet) their book, which I see now has been revised.
"First Aid for a Wounded Marriage" by Marilyn Phillipps is available now online.

God bless you, Mike and Marilyn, as I am thrilled to find that you are still together, still helping to heal marriages! I am hoping that they will not mind it being posted here in my blog.

WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT

By Mike & Marilyn Phillipps

Disposable curtains, disposable sheets
Disposable covers for your seats.
Use it once, use it twice.
Throw it out when no longer nice.

Disposable forks, disposable plates,
Disposable memories, forgettable dates.
Throw away cartons, discardable pens,
Disposable trash bags, where will it end?

Nothing's for certain, nothing lasts.
Today is important, forget the past.
Keep it if it's important to you,
Toss it if it's lost it's hue.

Once she loved, but now it's died.
He said he cared, but you're sure he lied.
Forget the vows, toss the rings,
Throw them out as disposable things.

Discard the old and find a new,
A better one, a one that's true.
Vow new vows, keep them for a season,
Then toss them out if you've got good reason.

Discard the home and the family, too,
Pursue those things important to you.
God wants you happy, not enduring a cross,
Too bad your happiness is your children's loss.

Children crying late at night,
Hearts broken by parental strife.
One good parent is better than two.
Another lie the devil's got through.

Disposable parents, conditional love,
Teach your children of the Father above.
God says His love is eternal too,
How do they know His Word is true?

Maybe He'll leave when the going gets tough,
Maybe His love isn't strong enough.
Maybe He loves conditionally too,
And throws you out when He's done with you.

How can a child know that God's love is strong?
When the earthly example of parent is wrong?
You vowed a vow. Is your word true?
Those children's eyes are watching you.

Do we who contain the Hope of Glory,
Have no answers for this ugly story?
How can we be overcomers in the street,
When in our own homes we're being beat?

The world has no answers for marital strife,
All they can tell you is "Get on with life."
The devil rejoices in a chance to revile,
John 13:35 is really on trial.

Don't let Satan take your marriage and home,
Tell him to back off and leave them alone.
The name of Jesus is still above divorce,
The thing does not simply have to run it's course.

If nothing is impossible to the God we serve,
Get out your Sword and throw the devil a curve.
God is faithful and His Word is true,
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.

Covenant love is covenant love,
Between man and wife or with our Father above.
It's strong and stable, unconditional, too,
And it's never discarded for something new.

Mike and Marilyn Phillipps are the founders and international directors of Marriage Ministries Intl, a ministry that develops and nurtures marriages through principles found in God's scripture. Check out their web site at www.marriage.org. © 1987 Marriage Ministries International.