What’s that Smell?

The smell was so bad he was embarrassed to take friends to lunch.

My husband drove a burgundy Saturn in the early days of our marriage. And it stunk. For a male, a little stink in a car is like a trophy. What guy wants his wheels to smell of strawberries and roses?

But over time, the smell was more than he could bear. He tried scented pine trees fresheners. When that didn’t work, he put oil of wintergreen on cotton balls under the seats.

No matter how he tried to mask the terrible odor, it remained. When co-workers suggested lunch outings, Alan cringed at the thought of shuttling friends in the stink-mobile, and rolled down the windows to blow the stench away.

One afternoon, my husband stopped to pick up some groceries. When he opened the trunk, he found the source of the offensive aroma – the trash.

As newlyweds, Alan and I lived in an apartment. We had to drive our trash to the receptacles in the front of the complex. Most of the time, my hubby would balance the garbage on the back of the car on the way to the dumpsters. But one day, for whatever reason, he put the trash in the trunk and left it there – for almost three weeks.

When we hide grievances in our marriage, it has the same effect. Out of sight, out of mind may apply at first, but eventually hidden trash will create a rotten attitude. The longer it festers, the worse the smell.

When your husband spoke harshly to you in front of the kids or your wife brushed you off when you shared your needs with her, your feelings were trampled. It’s okay to overlook small misdeeds, but when dealing with an item you can’t resolve, speak up. Your relationship will be better for it.

Don’t allow lingering garbage to create a state of perpetual stink in your marriage. Air out your differences. Get rid of your sour thoughts. It’s as easy as taking out the trash.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5 NIV

7 Responses to What’s that Smell?
  1. Barbie
    July 27, 2011 | 9:12 pm

    Thank you for this very thought provoking post. I think I might have a little bit of garbage to toss out!

  2. Vicki
    July 28, 2011 | 6:50 am

    Fantastic post. Mostly because it’s nice to know someone else has accidentally left garbage in the trunk of their car (mine was in Florida in summertime…that only made it a few hours before I found the culprit). Secondly, because I’m still learning how to stand up for myself in my marriage. Fortunately, my husband is wonderful and supportive, but he can only do that when I speak up to begin with!

  3. Kimberly
    August 1, 2011 | 10:38 pm

    Stink-mobile. Love it. I need to remember that. On those days when I am toting around a sour attitude towards my man, I need to stop and tell myself to quit being such a stink-mobile and to take out the garbage. 🙂

  4. […] in marriage.I admit that I sniffed around a little after reading this thought-provoking post….What’s that Smell?The smell was so bad he was embarrassed to take friends to lunch.My husband drove a burgundy Saturn […]

  5. Sarita Edgerton
    August 6, 2011 | 9:01 am

    So true! I love that thought!

  6. Kia
    August 6, 2011 | 10:24 am

    Wonderful post. I know this happens all too freqently in a lot of marriages. I’m very fortunate to have a hubby who listens to what I have to say and with whom I can express how I feel (and vice versa).
    It’s actually one of those things we mention every now and again – how too many people just don’t open up in their marraige.
    To outsiders we sometimes seem to “bicker” a lot. We don’t really, it’s just that we are always saying what we think or feel and that openness means that we don’t have to hang on to the trash – we can just toss it as it crops up.
    We’ve been together almost 10 years now, friends for a bit longer, so it must be working 😉

  7. What’s that Smell? | Sheep To The Right
    November 4, 2011 | 11:59 am

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