50/50

By H. Norman Wright      WHEN TWO PEOPLE get married, they have expectations how the relationship should work...
      Often the unspoken assumption is that "my spouse will meet me halfway."  Sometimes it's called the "50/50 Plan."  When the husband and wife operate on this plan, it's easy for it to spread to other members of the family.
      The 50/50 Plan says, "You do your part, and I'll do mine."  It sounds logical, but couples who use it may be surprised.
      A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald's.  He noticed that they had ordered one meal and an extra drink cup.  As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them.  Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife.  The old man then began to eat, and his wife sate watching, with her hands folded in her lap.  The young man decided to ask it they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn't have to split theirs.
      The old gentleman said, "Oh, no.  We've been married for 50 years, and everything has always been and will be shared 50/50."
      The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, "Not yet.  It's his turn with the teeth..."
      The problem with most 50/50 arrangements is that giving is based on merit and performance.  There's a focus more on what the other person is giving than on what we are giving.
      Think about the type of love God gives you.  No matter what we do, He gives us 100 percent.
      There's a better plan.  It's called the "100/100 Plan."  Give 100 percent no matter what your spouse does.  It really does work...

- H. Norman Wright, "50/50 or 100/100?", Before You Say "I Do" Devotional, 105-106; Mike Benson edits an on-line devotional entitled KneEmail.  To subscribe, send ANY message to: kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org  Mike may be contacted  atmlbenson@wowway.com