A Rose for Every Thorn

My husband can be annoying.

He has quirky little habits. He employs his own version of logic when completing tasks. He can be loud and obnoxious when I'm feeling quiet. If I start to focus on these details, suddenly everything rubs me the wrong way: the way he loads the dishwasher, sings along to the radio, even how he chews his food begins to grate on my last nerve.

It is easy to fall into the habit of dwelling on the irritating. It is much harder to put those things aside and choose always to see the good things in someone: the way they think something through so thoroughly before starting; the way they try, like Tigger, to bounce everyone into a good mood; the way they load the dishwasher every night after dinner, singing along to the radio and making up silly lyrics as they go.

Lots of life's little annoyances or jabs are accompanied by good—even beautiful—things. Today I'm reminding myself to look for the rose with every thorn, to focus on the good things about my husband (and others around me) just as he graciously seems to overlook my irritating habits (not that I have them or anything). 

Do you think it's possible to be grateful for things that sting a little? How do you remember not to dwell on the irritation?