Our First Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
I recalled my first Valentine's Day as a married woman...
On our first Valentine’s Day, hubby walked out the house and
came home with a little cheap teddy bear in a tiny, dusty flower pot with an
artificial rose attached to it. I remember this like it happened yesterday, and
I also remember throwing that mess in the trash can as soon as he handed it to
me. Did he really think his last minute, gas station gift would please me? I
couldn’t believe it. We haven’t celebrated Valentine’s Day since that day and
this month we are celebrating our nineteenth wedding anniversary. Did I react
too harshly? I could have acted like
I was grateful, but the truth sets me free.
Over the years, hubby and I have had many discussions about love and
Valentine’s Day. Love isn’t a gift, a card, or flowers, but love is hard work, sweat,
and tears. Love is forgiving and acceptance. Our marriage has endured some
difficult times and has been on the verge of divorce. Our marriage reminds me
of the long process a diamond goes through before it is considered authentic.
Marriage also goes through a long process, but many of us bail when the process
begins to hurt. Marriages have to go through some fire! Hubby and I not only
went through the fire, we’ve gone through hell, but we’re still standing. Love
conquers ALL…love endures ALL. I often
go around the house singing Foreigner’s song, “I want to know what love is.” The
truth is, God is the only one who can show me what love is and if I don’t have
God in my heart, I will never be able to show love to others – not even to the
man I vowed to love all my life – my hubby – my Valentine.
With today being Valentine's Day, I think I may have been bitten by the love bug because I'm cooking a special meal for hubby and my two sons. I'm strangely excited about this special dinner especially since cooking is not my forte'. I'm sure the family will be pleased since everyone enjoys a little special treatment every now and then.
Happy Valentine's Day to you, and don’t look to receive, but look for opportunities to give... today and every day – give
love!
REAL love
Showing LOVE is probably the most difficult thing for anyone to do. It's so easy to recognize faults and shortcomings.
I don't believe there is such a thing as real love, it's either love or it isn't.
Worth the Fight?
Everything your marriage comes against that is designed to tear you apart is what makes your marriage strong!
Marriage really isn't marriage until you've gone through some things to test the love; it's easy to love in good times!
ENDURE the rough roads, rocky mountains, stormy weather, and uncomfortable situations.
No one said it would be easy, but it's worth the fight!
Do You Have to Wear That?
Have you ever wanted to tell your spouse to change their clothes? Hubby has a pair of old work sweats that he decided to wear on New Year's Day. I refused to look at them all day, so I asked him as nicely as I could to change his clothes. Read how I handled it here.
It Really Does Get Easier
My husband was
so excited yesterday to attend a class offered at church titled, The
Measure of a Man.
After eighteen years of marriage, now he wants to be educated on the measure
of a man. Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful, but where was this class when we
were going through hell? We’ve taken quite a few marriage classes and even led
the Couples’ Ministry at church. I’m here to tell you – hubby and I have the
real deal marriage. We are complete opposites and we experience our share of
ups, downs, arguments, seasons of bliss, and even entertained divorce.
I had a
thought last night – marriage is like wisdom…it doesn’t come until you’ve
experienced all the bumps, bruises, and battles of life and by that time,
you’re on your way out of the land of the living. Now that I’ve experienced
some of those bumps and bruises, I know the early years of our marriage were only
a test of our will to survive the marriage. The middle years of marriage were a
test of our patience and longsuffering. The surviving years (where we are now)
are continual pop tests of trusting God. I pray our final years will be…years
of contentment? Marriage gets easier, but the bumps keep coming. Hubby’s eleven-week
class is an overdue tune-up for our marriage. No tune-up, no marriage….and
that’s NO JOKE.
For those of you entertaining the thought of leaving your
marriage or stuck in a season of staleness or suffering, don’t look at your
husband’s face, your circumstances, or other couples faking the funk, but look
to God. Unless you’re in an abusive relationship, stand strong through your
seasons. It doesn’t matter what your situation is (I’ve experienced it all), God
is real. Don’t walk out before you’re shown the measure of your man. Do your
part and God will surely do His. I’m a witness!
Guest Blogger
I came across this post today and wanted to share. I love "keeping it real" writing.
QueenBee and Company - On Being Married
It Takes Time
Marriage is a course in the school of life in which one never graduates from, but you sure do learn a lot about yourself and what love
is REALLY all about.
I'm a witness, marriage does get better with time, but if you bail out early, you'll never see the better, but you'll definitely end up bitter.
Marriage is like a fine wine...it takes years to make a sweet juice and you sure can't rush it. It's a process - a looong process requiring a lot of patience and understanding. Marriage isn't for wimps!
I'm a witness, marriage does get better with time, but if you bail out early, you'll never see the better, but you'll definitely end up bitter.
Marriage is like a fine wine...it takes years to make a sweet juice and you sure can't rush it. It's a process - a looong process requiring a lot of patience and understanding. Marriage isn't for wimps!
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