We were making introductions at my college alumni dinner when I made a remark that embarrassed my wife.
  
To be more precise, it hurt her deeply.  As we drove home that night she explained her hurt to me.  There was no question about it - I needed to ask her forgiveness.  When I asked her to forgive me, she blinked back her tears, managed a smile, and then said, "I forgive you."  It was an act of pure mercy on her part.
 
She could have said, "OK, Bob, you did help clean the kitchen the other day. And you did take care of the kids for an hour while I went out.  So, all things considered, I guess I’ll let this one get by."  If she had forgiven me based on my merit, not her love, that would have been an act of justice, not mercy.
 
As married couples we can sometimes forget the difference between justice and mercy.  God Almighty does not treat us according to our wrongdoing, which would be justice.  Instead, He forgives according to our need - that’s mercy. We should offer the same to our spouse each day.
 
Jesus told us we’re to learn from God how to forgive.  The Cross satisfied God’s need for justice so God can now offer unlimited mercy. 

Will you let the Cross teach you how to give your wife the mercy she needs?
 
  
By Bob Moeller
 
Used by Permission. Excerpt from Marriage Minutes by Bob and Cheryl Moeller. (Moody Press, 2000)  Purchase Marriage Minutes online.