Wiggle The Rail

My cousin and her husband had grown out of their 3-bedroom townhouse. They were a growing, blended family and knew they needed space to spread out soon so they began their house hunt. With each house they viewed, their realtor and her husband walked around providing practical feedback. Their realtor’s husband entered one house and wiggled the stair rail. He told the couple that if they purchased that home the rail needed to be tightened.

As I listened to my cousin telling me this story I immediately had a spiritual download. I stopped her and began to express the revelation I believed I had received from God. As she and her husband searched for houses they had a more experienced couple navigate them through the search. They knew what to look for and were able to provide sound feedback with each visit. With their knowledge and expertise, I knew neither my cousin nor her husband ever questioned the advice to make sure the rail was tightened. She agreed.

The Bible is full of scriptures about seeking wisdom and counsel from others. One scripture says, “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” (Pro. 12:15 NLT) The realtor and her handy husband were no doubt the counsel my cousin and her husband needed when it came to looking for a house. Likewise, in marriage, I can see the value of partnering up with another married couple(s) who are further along in their marriages and are living by God’s principles. One will see that these couples have been to places we haven’t been and can see things we can’t see. We often can’t see the things they see because we don’t even know how to look. Why did the realtor’s handy husband know to check the stair rail? Maybe the stair rail in a house he had been in was loose and someone got injured. Maybe as they aged they realized the importance of having a secure stair rail after having gripped a loose one. Perhaps they took safety or real-estate courses and learned what to look for. At any rate, that couple knew that loose rails were not safe for any occupants of a house. Similarly, sometimes we need a couple who will “wiggle the rail” in our marriages and tell us what needs to be tightened up. The wiggle is not to discourage or expose us to bring shame. Instead, it’s a safety measure that will ensure everyone can maneuver areas of marriage without incident. And if there is an incident, it can’t be blamed on the rail if it’s secure.

Today, I exhort you that if you’re married and don’t have any other couples in your life that are walking out godly marriages around you and are connected to, pray that our most holy God will unite you with the ones who from time to time will come by and wiggle the rail.

Selah

(In honor of the late Charlie Merritt)