My wife, Stacy, and I had one of those days. You know those days you get easily agitated with the other person and argue about stuff that really is unimportant. Yep, we had a day of it.

We went to bed at about the same time, and did so without talking. Shows you my level of spiritual leadership. Not! It is called being stubborn.

I got up before her the next morning. I showered, got dressed, grabbed my bag, and headed to the door. Normally, I gently touch her arm to let her know I am leaving. However, on this morning I was still thinking about the day before and did not even want to do that. God put a stop to it. As I walked past her, he said to me, "Go back and not only gently touch her arm, but gently kiss her forehead." Honestly, I did not want to. Just keeping it real. I kissed her forehead and left.

A few nights ago, Stacy got quiet and told me something that was beautiful. She referenced the kiss from last week, and then told me about a conversation she recently had with God about how that particular day was full of blunders on her part. She felt down and defeated, struggling to receive forgiveness, not feeling loved, and a little distant from God.

It was that next morning that God said to gently kiss her forehead.

She told me that I had never kissed her like that. She said it was like a father kissing his daughter. She said she felt God kissing her and reminding her of his love and forgiveness.

Stacy told me:

“You were the physical tool God used to show that he heard my prayer and loves me, and it happened that way because you chose to obey even when you didn’t feel like it.”

I learned eight lessons:

• Arguing hurts and creates division.
• Being stubborn is arrogant.
• Humility is better.
• God sees what we need and he often shows up in unexpected ways.
• When we reluctantly or voluntarily (preferred) obey him, we never know what he is doing.
• Obeying him is not a burden.
• Obedience is rewarded and good for your life and the life of someone else.
• Obedience makes him the priority and not my preferences, which can become idolatry.