Who's the alien in the house?

There was an interesting story on the news last night about mysterious and unexplained lights that appeared in the Arizona sky. Pictures from observers' cell phones captured images of 4 bright orbs that looks like pairs of heavenly headlights shining down on earth. Some people claimed the lights were UFOs (can you hear the X-files theme song softly playing???)

Despite your opinion on whether ET is really out there trying to phone home, my husband and I first became convinced extraterrestrial life forms existed a few days after our wedding. On those initial days of married life together under the same roof, we were both asking, "Who is the alien in the house?"

Here are some of the questions we asked:
"Why does your kind have to watch the news EVERY NIGHT?"
"Why does your kind take a bath every morning at 7am?"
"Why does your kind hit the snooze button 500 TIMES?"
"Why does your kind make the bed every morning?"
"Why does your kind use the TV as your dinner date?"
"Why does your kind use a clean towel every day?"
"Why does your kind drop your socks on the floor, only inches from the basket?"

Moving in together as husband and wife can sometimes throw a wrench into our daily routines. These issues should not be discounted because they can become a hotbed for petty arguments. Working to effectively acquaint yourself with the alien in the house, and understanding their habits is critical. It is important to recognize that we all do things that are foreign (can I say weird?) to one another. Start out at first by observing, asking questions, and seeking to genuinely understand the alien. Why do they act the way they do? Is it how they were raised? Do they have different expectations than you? Don’t assign motives. They probably don't intentionally act that way just to make you mad, or because they want you to be frustrated.

READ: Phil 2:3-4, Paul says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Questions:
1. What personal habits do you have that may be foreign to your spouse?
2. What personal habits does your spouse have that are foreign to you? Why do you think s/he behaves that way?
3. What are some tools that can be used to put aside personal biases, with the ultimate goal of understanding the other person?
4. What is one practical way you can look out for the interests of your spouse?
5. How can you model or behave in such a way that your spouse knows that you regard him or her as more important than yourself?