Grace Found Noah

Grace Found Noah
Genesis 6: 5-8

Early in our marriage, we adopted the mantra that the most destructive phrase in the English language was “you should have,” as in “You should have done this or that,” or “You shouldn’t have done this or that.” The phrase “you should,” as in “You should stop watching television and come to bed,” can be open to less objection. But “you should have” seemed destructive because it is purely backward looking. There is nothing now you can do about whatever the failure was. The phrase simply constitutes negative criticism. No doubt we were exaggerating in giving it the “most destructive phrase” award; maybe it was just something we needed to take seriously in our relationship. But the mantra gave both of us some liberation...