YOU'RE AN OLD PRO at parenting and marriage. You’ve been doing this for a while now. But some things still escape you – and of
course I love to smirk and remind you of them…
Dean: (Walking in to see Adrian and I talking). Hey, did you tell him about the surprise we
were planning for him?”
Me: No… Then it wouldn’t be a
surprise.
Adrian: What surprise?
Dean: Never mind
Dean: (Sitting down at the dinner table with all the kids). Hey, did you tell the kids Madison is coming
home tomorrow for a visit?
Me: No, she asked us to keep it
a surprise.
Kids: When is Madison coming?
Dean: Never mind
Dean: (Looking up from his iPad
at all the kids). Hey, boys, did you
want to stay up late for a movie and popcorn?
Me: It’s a school night.
Dean: Well how about we run up
and have popcorn and a short movie real quick as soon as the girls are in bed.
Me: The girls can hear you.
Bronwyn & Emersyn: Wahhhhhhh!
Dean: Never mind.
Me: I’ve just been so
overwhelmed lately. Projects at the
church, and schooling the kids, and the girls’ medical appointments, and this house, and meal prepping…
Dean: Hey, can we invite some people
over for a BBQ?
Me: You can. I’ll be away that
day.
Dean: Never mind.
And so we laugh. Often at each
other. Mostly at you.
You’re tough. Or oblivious. But whatever – you can take it.
Of course, I can laugh at myself too - but I'm not as funny.
23 Years ago, you probably had no idea when you fell for me, that I was
born missing that protective layer most people come with.
Two decades and three years of real life have changed me. I can’t seem to grow callous and used to the
hard knocks of reality.
It’s not any one thing;
it’s the collection of moments that bruise and scrape.
And I decide to heal, but the process takes so long!
And it’s changed me. Drained
me. Made me a little kinder to those who need kindness, and a lot less patient with those who are unkind.
But you remind me of what’s True and Right and Pure.
When we are weak, then He is strong.
The years have changed you too. You’ve
gotten steadier. More patient. You’ve waited it out when I wasn’t sure there
was an end to a hard situation. And you
were right.
You haven’t been quick to blame me -
only carefully questioned why the brick flower bed edging, or plastic
water gutter or firepit stones are broken, shredded and displaced.
I said “I had a rough day on the lawn tractor.”
A younger you would have given me some suggestions.
Last week, you wisely let it go.
You don't complete me (Jesus already did that). But two are better than one, because if one falls down, the other can lift him (her) up.
Our marriage and family are beautiful because of you (and Jesus of
course. But He already knew that.)
