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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Like Water off a duck's back...

Like Water off a duck's back...


Matt and I celebrated nineteen years of marriage this past week. Celebrated is quite an exaggeration of what we did on the date of our wedding anniversary! The funny thing is that it was okay that the day wasn't anything special. Nineteen years of ups and downs has taught me that as unfortunate as it was that a down day fell on a special date, there would be many more ups to come... and probably many more downs.

Matt and I are very different. I can literally do ten things at one time. I can cook, carry on a conversation with both a child and someone on the telephone, pay a bill online, run back and forth to do Izzy's therapy, switch out the laundry, run the list of what I need at the store over my brain, and whatever else needs to happen. Matt on the other hand... he can pretty much do one thing at a time. Period. I've come to accept this and even be okay with it. I know many husbands aren't great multi-taskers, so you probably have a one track mind guy at your house too!

I tell you all that to explain what happened to set off a bad day on our anniversary. The day before our anniversary I was driving down our road, toward home. I noticed a really fast turtle practically running across the road. I immediately thought about our church's vacation bible school next week. One evening they are having a turtle/frog race. I saw Matt park and called his cell phone from my car and had him walk down to see this speed racer turtle. He was impressed, but thought it was too long before VBS to capture him. So we left him to run away and went home. Our breaker box had an issue earlier that morning and Matt had purchased a part to fix it. He went straight to do that while I went in to get dinner on the table for him. All was well with the world.

Fast forward to the next morning. Matt has a basket to keep all his pocket stuff in when he comes home, because he loses things often! It simplifies life for all his things to be in one place. He loads up all his stuff (2 cell phones, pager, pocket tool thingie, little notebook, pen, blah blah blah) and realizes that one of his two sets of keys is missing. I jump up to help him start looking. He is getting more and more frustrated. He really hates to lose things! No keys. It's pouring down rain outside, even thundering loudly. We both look outside in his vehicle. He walks down the road where speedy was and on the other side of the house where he was working. No keys. So I took him to his office where his work vehicle was. It's only about a mile from our house.

Our anniversary up to this point had not been mentioned and while you might find it a little mean... I said, "Happy Anniversary." as I dropped him off at his office. In the rain. With no personal keys. He looked at me and I knew my words had hit the mark.

I found the keys when the rain subsided, in the grass on the side of the house. He was very happy. I ordered Matt a book he wanted and had it sent overnight so he would have it for an anniversary gift. It was "God's Master Plan." We fussed on and off that day. We didn't go out to dinner or anything special, but it was still a special day to me.

I think one of the most important things to remember when you are married to someone is that even when things are not great, or happy, or perfect...

You remember that a lot of the time they are great. That when your spouse is having a bad day and it's raining and they lose their keys... you pray for them. You pray that God will be with them and that He will guide you and help you be a loving wife in spite of circumstances. Even when it's not your favorite time of the month. Even when he didn't say the right thing. God will show up. He will smooth it over and soften your heart, and his heart. Prayer for Matt has never failed me.
Never.
Questions for reflection:

Have you had times in your married life that you prayed and God has changed your heart, and your spouse's heart?

How has prayer helped your marriage?





Annie can be found daily at her personal blogsite,


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10 Comments:

Blogger Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Hi Annie,
I loved your post. I wouldn't want to go through lifes ups and downs with anyone else but my hubby. You're going to have them no matter what so why not go through them with someone you love and adore. One prayer that I prayed for was to embrace my roll as Mom. Being a mom wasn't something I had grown up wanting to be like most little girls but when I asked the Lord for that change of heart I truly felt the change come around and really do embrace it with all I have now.
Awesome post. Great job!
Blessings,
Kim

June 24, 2008 at 4:52 AM  
Blogger Susan said...

Hey Annie,

Happy Anniversary! Yes, we all have those days for sure...

Hope it was an extra special happy ending after all!

Blessings♥

June 24, 2008 at 9:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

we're celebrating our 17th next month... sometimes it's darkest before the dawn.. breakdown before breakthru. Proverbs 3:5-6

gp in montana

June 24, 2008 at 9:42 AM  
Blogger Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Thanks for sharing this post. I think it is hard for christian women to admit that their marriage isn't perfect. But, who's marriage is? I know that my husband and I struggled and nearly divorced, at one time. However, God was not at the center of our marriage, during that season of our lives. He is the center now. Does that mean that we have all up and no downs. Of course not. So, thanks for the honesty about your anniversary day, and the reminder that we must always lift our husband up in prayer and love him just as Christ loves us.

June 24, 2008 at 11:47 AM  
Blogger Denise said...

Happy Anniversary sweetie, be blessed.

June 24, 2008 at 3:32 PM  
Blogger windycindy said...

Hi, My husband and I celebrated 22 years of marriage at the end of May! Congratulations to you and have many more. I can identify with everything that you wrote. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

June 24, 2008 at 3:51 PM  
Blogger Cindy Swanson said...

Happy (belated) anniversary, Annie! Your post is SOOO true. I've been married nearly 30 years, and I can attest to your wisdom here. Enjoyed your devotional very much.

June 24, 2008 at 4:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Prayer . . . has never failed me. Never."

I love that!!!!

June 24, 2008 at 9:18 PM  
Blogger Nancy Face said...

Annie, this was so touching! I love your wonderful, positive attitude! :)

I am not good at multi tasking, haha! :D

I believe that when we sincerely pray for our spouse, God helps to soften our heart and increase our love. :)

June 25, 2008 at 7:04 AM  
Blogger Praise and Coffee said...

YES!! Lots of times....MOST of the time! :)

Great words and congrats!
Sue

June 26, 2008 at 7:51 AM  

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