I recently came across a powerful story I read online many years ago called “The Law of the Garbage Truck,” and I knew I had to share it with you.
A taxi driver explained this concept to a passenger:
“Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of frustration, anger, and disappointment. As their ‘trash’ piles up, they need somewhere to dump it. If you let them, they’ll unload it on you. But you don’t have to take it.”
This made me think about marriage.
Maybe your spouse is carrying stress from work, exhaustion from responsibilities, or wounds from the past. Sometimes, their frustration spills over onto you. The key is not to take it personally and not to let it poison your heart.
So what can you do instead?
1️⃣ Respond with grace – Instead of reacting, take a deep breath and choose patience. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
2️⃣ Pray for your spouse – Ask God to bring peace to their heart and wisdom to yours.
3️⃣ Be a place of love, not more garbage – Don’t add to the pile of negativity; be the one who offers kindness and understanding.
Your marriage will thrive when you refuse to be a dumping ground for negativity and instead become a source of God’s love and peace.
I’ll be talking more about this in my upcoming live stream – Marriage Rebuilding Masterclass 3.0. Join me tonight at 7 PM EST as I share practical ways to apply this to your marriage.
Click here to watch live → Marriage Rebuilding Masterclass 3.0
What do you think? Have you ever been tempted to “collect garbage” in your marriage? Hit reply and let me know.
Blessings,
Ade