A few months ago, I signed up for one of those "word of the day" e-mails in hopes of expanding my vocabulary. More often than not, these remained unopened in my inbox, but today, out of sheer curiosity, I read the meaning of a new word: autologous-
MEANING: (adjective) involving a situation in which the donor and the recipient (of blood, skin, bone, etc.) are the same person.
ETYMOLOGY: from Greek auto- (self) + -logous (proportion, ratio, word)
Although this word is in reference to a medical phenomenon, I believe there is a level of meaning that can be applied to marriage. Consider the Bible verse Mark 10:8, "'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh." (NKJV) Genesis 2:23 reads, "And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
When we enter into marriage we become one. There is no separation. Each spouse is essentially both the donor and recipient. This is not only true physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.
Too often--whether consciously or subconsciously--one spouse will withhold love when he/she is feeling hurt or neglected. We give "love" to our spouse in direct proportion to which we receive love. However, without fail, when you disperse love conditionally, you as well as your spouse will feel hurt.
Forgiveness is autologous in nature. Matthew 6:14 says, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." As you give forgiveness, your spouse may not respond instantaneously, but you immediately receive the spiritual blessing of forgiveness from your heavenly Father. God's cleansing healing will wash over your wounds and pluck out the root of bitterness.
An autologous skin graft works by peeling a thin layer of skin from the healthy part of the body and transferring it to the injured portion to improve the overall function of the body. As God continues to heal you in your walk with Him, He will use the parts you give to Him to heal not only your spouse, but also your marriage.
When we enter into marriage we become one. There is no separation. Each spouse is essentially both the donor and recipient. This is not only true physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.
Too often--whether consciously or subconsciously--one spouse will withhold love when he/she is feeling hurt or neglected. We give "love" to our spouse in direct proportion to which we receive love. However, without fail, when you disperse love conditionally, you as well as your spouse will feel hurt.
Forgiveness is autologous in nature. Matthew 6:14 says, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." As you give forgiveness, your spouse may not respond instantaneously, but you immediately receive the spiritual blessing of forgiveness from your heavenly Father. God's cleansing healing will wash over your wounds and pluck out the root of bitterness.
An autologous skin graft works by peeling a thin layer of skin from the healthy part of the body and transferring it to the injured portion to improve the overall function of the body. As God continues to heal you in your walk with Him, He will use the parts you give to Him to heal not only your spouse, but also your marriage.
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