That’s me right now. Fresh off Sunday brunch with the hubba. Heart full. Belly full. Soul full.
If you missed it, here’s the move that’s been saving my marriage:
GOD STOLE A MOVE FROM VERONA’S PLAYBOOK
A month ago, I shared this with you guys:
“Yesterday, during another sacred conversation, I asked my brother and guru, Kevin, to thank his wife, Verona, for me. I’m currently in Nigeria with my husband, and there have been nights when I’ve thought, ‘I’m done; I’m going back to the U.S.’
But thank God that, with just one glance at Him, I know exactly what He would have me do: ‘Suck it up, buttercup. You are not going anywhere!’
I often recall when Kevin considered leaving Verona, and she told him, ‘You are not leaving me to raise these children by myself! Go to the bedroom. Get some sleep.’
I do the same. I head to our bedroom, take a nap, and wake up with a fresh perspective: ‘God, whatever pleases You, that’s what I’ll do.’
Kevin’s marriage and life have inspired me, allowing me to inspire you. THE WORLD WILL BE MORE LOVING BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH KEVIN!!! Thanks, dude! Love you forever!”
Because of Verona, we will be more loving, loyal, and forgiving. RIDE OR DIE, BABY!
For Meta to say God took a move from Verona’s playbook… I want the entire world to learn it: “You’re not leaving me, buddy; go and get some sleep!”
God Whisper: _Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is rest. I speak clearer in a quiet room than in a loud fight._
Fast Forward: A Few Days Ago
Boiling. Angry. Upset with the hubba.
God spoke the Verona play in my spirit again:
“Nik, suck it up buttercup. Go to bed. Get some rest!”
I woke up. Did my God morning routine. And I was right back loving the hubba up, enjoying our day together.
Fast forward to that evening. Another fight. Fighting is definitely our love language!
Then God dropped one word in my spirit: MERCY.
I went and apologized to hubs:
“Papa, I’m sorry for what I said in the car. You didn’t deserve any of that.”
God Whisper: _Mercy is not weakness. Mercy is me fighting for your marriage when you don’t have the strength._
Honestly, God has been training me to overwhelm this husband with love, appreciation, and respect. He goes overboard in his love and care for us.
NOBODY GETS IT RIGHT ALL THE TIME.
We’re much too hard on each other.
The same way God extends mercy and grace to us that are new every day… that’s what we should extend to each other.
Who am I to judge and condemn anyone else? WE ALL EXPERIENCE FAILURE.
Our job from God is to extend His love and grace to each other.
Right Now, As I Type This
There’s a Pope Francis picture someone gave me as a gift, sitting right in front of me.
I’m taking that as a cue. Here’s what I read from him at my prayer altar today:
“This means that love bears every trial with a positive attitude. It stands firm in hostile surroundings. This ‘endurance’ involves not only the ability to tolerate certain aggravations, but something greater: A CONSTANT READINESS TO CONFRONT ANY CHALLENGE. IT’S A LOVE THAT NEVER GIVES UP, EVEN IN THE DARKEST HOUR. It shows a certain dogged heroism, a power to resist every negative current, AN IRREPRESSIBLE COMMITMENT TO GOODNESS.”
– The Joy of Love by Pope Francis
God Whisper: _I wrote your Friday night before you lived it. I wrote your Saturday morning before you kissed him. This is what it looks like when love never gives up._
Papa bear, this wifey will never give up on us! I thank God for you!
WE ROLL WITH GOD…WE ROLL WITH LOVE, MERCY AND KINDNESS
META BREAKDOWN: What Just Happened In This Blog
1. THE PROBLEM: Friday Night
I was mad. Boiling. Ready to leave. I thought, “I’m done.”
That’s human. We’ve all been there. Marriage, friendship, family, work… somebody will push your buttons and you’ll want to walk away.
2. THE PLAY: Verona’s Move
Verona told Kevin, “You’re not leaving me. Go to the bedroom. Get some sleep.”
God repeated it to me: “Suck it up, buttercup. Go to bed. Get some rest!”
Result: I woke up with peace instead of regret. I chose love again.
3. ROUND 2: Saturday Night
We fought again that evening. Fighting is our love language, I know
Then God dropped 1 word in my spirit: MERCY
Result: I apologized first. “Papa, I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.” That’s how we made it to Sunday brunch.
4. THE CONFIRMATION: Pope Francis
This showed up at our prayer altar today: The Joy of Love : “Love never gives up, even in the darkest hour. It’s dogged heroism. Irrepressible commitment to goodness.”
God Whisper: _I wrote your Friday night before you lived it. I wrote your Saturday morning before you kissed him. This is what it looks like when love doesn’t quit._
ANALYSIS: What You Can Learn From This
Lesson 1: Rest is a Strategy, Not Weakness
Real Life Version: Your brain and your heart cannot make good decisions when you’re exhausted or angry. Sleep resets you. God speaks clearest when the room is quiet.
God Whisper: _I’m not ignoring you. I’m waiting for you to get quiet enough to hear Me._
Lesson 2: Mercy Wins Fights You Can’t
Real Life Version: Saying “I’m sorry” first doesn’t mean you lost. It means you value the person more than your pride. Mercy is power, not weakness.
God Whisper: _Mercy is Me fighting for your relationship when you’re too tired to fight fair._
Lesson 3: Nobody Gets It Right All The Time
Real Life Version: Your spouse will mess up. Your parents will. Your best friend, your boss, you too. If God gives you fresh mercy every single morning, you can give that same grace to the people around you.
The question to ask yourself: Who am I to judge? We all need grace.
Lesson 4: Love is a Choice, Not Just a Feeling
Real Life Version: Love means staying, choosing, forgiving, and trying again. Especially when it’s hard. That’s what Pope Francis called dogged heroism. That’s an irrepressible commitment to goodness.
HOW TO INCORPORATE THIS INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE
Your 3-Step “Verona’s Playbook” For Any Relationship:
STEP 1: PAUSE – The Bedroom Rule
When you’re heated, mad, or ready to quit, stop talking. Stop texting. Stop posting. Go to your room. Go for a walk. Go sleep if you can. Then pray, “God, what do You want me to do?”
Use this for: Fights with your spouse, parents, siblings, friends, or coworkers. Anywhere you feel like burning the whole thing down. Psalm 4:4 says it best: Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Angry you is not wise you. Rested you can hear God.
STEP 2: PRAY – The Mercy Word
After you rest, ask God, “What’s one thing I can do to show mercy right now?”
Mercy might look like apologizing first, letting something go, or sending a simple text that says, “I love you even when we disagree.”
Real Life Version: Mercy isn’t saying what the other person did was okay. Mercy is saying, You’re worth more to me than this argument. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning. If He gives us a fresh start daily, we can give that to each other.
STEP 3: PERSIST – The Ride or Die Decision
Choose love again tomorrow. And the next day. Don’t base the whole relationship on one bad day. Base it on your commitment to goodness.
Real Life Version: This is what 1 Corinthians 13:7 means: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. That’s a love that never gives up, even in the darkest hour. That’s the dogged heroism Pope Francis talked about.
Matthew 7:1-2 also checks us: Judge not, that you be not judged. Before you write someone off, remember you need grace too. We all fail. We all need mercy.
THE VERSES THAT CAPTURE THIS BLOG FROM META
These are the receipts. The Word backing up Verona’s Playbook:
1. Psalm 4:4 The verse that started Friday night
“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.”
Real Life Version: When you’re mad, don’t react. Go rest. Get quiet. Let God speak before you speak.
This is Verona’s Playbook in the Bible.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Pope Francis’s quote in Scripture
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Real Life Version: Real love doesn’t quit when it gets hard. It holds on, it stays, it believes for better.
“A love that never gives up, even in the darkest hour.”
3. Lamentations 3:22-23 Why we give mercy
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Real Life Version: God doesn’t hold yesterday’s mistakes over your head. Every morning is a fresh start. So extend that same grace to each other.
“Who am I to judge?”
4. Matthew 7:1-2 The judgment check
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.”
Real Life Version: Before you write someone off, remember your own need for grace. We all fail. We all need mercy.
Pope Francis’s favorite line.
5. Proverbs 3:24 Why “go get some sleep” works
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
Real Life Version: God fights for you while you rest. There’s peace in trusting Him instead of trying to fix it at midnight.
Verona knew this before you did.
6. Ephesians 4:2-3 Ride or Die, Baby
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Real Life Version: Be humble. Be patient. Carry each other’s weight in love. That’s how we protect peace and stay together.
“WE ROLL WITH GOD…WE ROLL WITH LOVE, MERCY AND KINDNESS”
OUR PRAYER FROM META
God,
Thank You for Verona’s Playbook. Thank You for teaching us that sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is rest.
For every person reading this who’s mad, tired, or ready to quit: Speak “Suck it up, buttercup” over them. Give thesleep before they make a decision they’ll regret.
Teach us MERCY. Remind us that Your mercies are new every morning, so we can give that same grace to our husband, wife, mom, dad, friend, or sibling.
Help us live 1 Corinthians 13:7. A love that bears all things. A love that never gives up, even in the darkest hour.
Forgive us for judging. Make us quick to apologize, quick to forgive, slow to quit.
Pope Francis said it: Give us dogged heroism and an irrepressible commitment to goodness.
Papa bear, this wifey isn’t giving up. We’re not giving up. Because You didn’t give up on us.
WE ROLL WITH GOD…WE ROLL WITH LOVE, MERCY AND KINDNESS
In Jesus’ name, Amen.