I enjoy listening to Janice McBride's teachings.  She says (and other Biblical scholars say) that our eternal souls are our "mind, will, and emotions."  This makes sense, since this is the part of us that isn't made of physical matter; it's the stuff that goes with us into eternity when our bodies die.  Our Mind, Will, and Emotions.

Sometime ago, I got to thinking about the importance of the order of these words, "Mind, Will, and Emotions."  Why is it that I always hear the trio in that order?  Is it significant?  If so, why?

As I pondered this, I recalled the times in my marriage when I felt no love at all towards my darling hubby, Stewart.  It's during these times that I've been apathetic towards him, not caring if he comes or goes, taking his every word and even his casual demeanor as purposeful and personal attacks against me.  Truly, there was no love lost in my thoughts!  I was absolutely, 100% not in love with him.

But somehow, often through a someone (thank you, ladies), I get the notion that - basically - there's a "kink in my think."  And that's the first part: the Mind.  I need to get the right thoughts into my head.  I need to think about what's good, right, honest, and true.  I can choose to be patient with him.  I can choose to be kind toward him.  I can be slow to anger.  I can give him the benefit of the doubt.  These are all good, right, honest, and true thoughts that I can choose to let seep into my Mind.

Then comes the second part: the Will.  Once I get the right thoughts into my Mind, then I need to act on them through purposeful utilization of my Will.  When he comes home, I say, "Hi.  How was your day?"  And then I can actually listen with a pleasant, smiling expression on my face, even if I don't "feel" pleasant towards him.  When he heavy-sighs at me, I bite my tongue and remind myself that I haven't been kind towards him and that I deserve that sigh.  And I don't respond with a "What was THAT for!"  I anticipate that his favorite beverage is Dr. Pepper and I bring him an ice-cold glass of it, just because I can.  These are actions I can Will myself to do.

So far, those two things, the Mind and the Will, are choices I can make, things I can control.

But what about my Emotions?  It's interesting to note that when I get the right thoughts into my Mind and act on those with my Will that it's not long and my Emotions follow-suit.  Suddenly, as I incorporate right thoughts and right actions into my daily life, I begin to FEEL love towards my hubby again!  Gone are the feelings of apathy and hate, of disgust and frustration.  It's not long and I begin to wonder what my problem against him ever was!  And then I can't wait until he comes home so I can see him, hear him, touch him.  And life is again good.

And another interesting thing about all this is that it all depends on me!  It has nothing to do with whether or not he's acting in the way I think he should or speaking to me in a kind tone or jumping through any hoops I want him to jump through.  It's all about what thoughts I ponder on and what actions I take because of these thoughts!  However, he can't help but react to my own actions.  If I'm consistent enough, his demeanor towards me naturally softens, his voice towards me loses its gruffness and its nastiness, his words become kinder, and even his body language towards me becomes warmer.  It's the most amazing thing I've ever personally and repetitiously witnessed! 

And the opposite of it is equally true!  If I get wrong ideas into my head and make them a part of my Mind, and then I act on them with my Will, my Emotions follow that suit, too!  It's like divorce and the ugliness between the couple that results.  Think about it.  When one person considers divorce, that idea makes itself strong in the person, deeply embedding itself into the person's Mind.  Soon, the person begins to make decisions and moves in his Will to act on that idea of divorce.  It's not long and that person FEELS apathy, hate, disgust, anger, frustration... and says to their spouse, "I don't love you anymore."  Well, no wonder!  They've got the wrong Mind!  They've got a baaaaaad "kink in their think!"

But all this can be so easily and so quickly resolved if people will just take a moment and consider that they don't have to be slaves to their Emotions!  No!  Instead, they can force their Emotions into obedience to their Mind and Will!  Get the right think!  Do the right thing!  Then bask in the warmth of the right feelings!  It's so simple, but so abstract to people.  This is something that should be taught to our children as we teach them self-control, when we see them acting out against their siblings or neighborhood kids.  If we teach them these things when they are young, they will be masters of their Emotions, because they will know how to use their Mind and Will for the good of all, before they enter into marriage!  And they will be happier for it!  So will their spouses and children! 

Blessings!  ♥Christi