Several years ago, our pastor and I taught two groups of adults on Wednesday nights: he shared a Bible study with the men and I shared one with the women. It was a new and exciting experience for me and those women were amazing. We had a great time.

That fall, I taught a series that I titled, “You Control the Thermostat.”

Thermostats have caused many problems in relationships. Someone in the house likes it warm and someone else likes it cold. For women, especially as we get to “that age”, the thermostat can be a huge challenge.

When I drive by myself, I love adjusting the temperature control. At times, I will have it on full heat and then a few minutes later the AC will be on.   Sometimes I have the temperature set on full heat WITH the windows open. (I try to control myself when other people are in the car with me. But, as soon as they are gone,  the  temperature fun starts!!)

One Thanksgiving, John and I visited a friend in Montana and our rental car had the most wonderful feature – heated seats!! We later bought portable “bun warmers” for our own vehicle and eventually gave a set to my parents for those long Kansas winters.  Those heaters are great.

Control of the thermostat changes things.

In Galatians 5, Paul wrote: ^“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (13-15)

We have a choice – we can love others or we can bite and devour them. It is entirely up to us.

So, when someone is being ill tempered and says “this is just how I am,” you know that they have chosen to be that way. And, when they (or we?) say, “I can’t help it,” we know that they (we) are not telling the truth.

It is the truth – we do control our own thermostat.

Admit it: You can do something to take part of the chill out of that relationship.  Do it today.