Gratitude Day 229

Tues., Mar. 12, 2019

Ecclesiastes 9:9 – Enjoy life with your dearly loved spouse all the days of your pointless life that God gives you under the sun—all the days of your pointless life! —because that’s your part to play in this life and in your hard work under the sun.

This. This is what I found when I arrived home.

I had been at my sister’s house for a couple days. We are putting in a master bathroom in our upstairs. A few days earlier, the plumber had roughed in the plumbing. Hubby Rick had installed some of the electrical work. Rick contacted the inspector to have things looked over before he moved onto the next steps.

The inspector came while I was gone. Hubby Rick sent me a text message sharing the good news that he could proceed.

Of course, Rick also knew that as soon as I arrive home, my first stop would be to see the progress of the bathroom. This is not the first time this has happened. While working on previous house projects, he has left me special little messages, ones that make my heart melt every time.

In a previous house, Rick was working on a bathroom while I was gone for several days. The message he left me? Rick drew a huge heart on the drywall above the tub and included our initials. It was SUPER THOUGHTFUL and touched my heart deeply. Only problem? It took multiple coats of primer before the sharpie pen used to draw his artwork stopped bleeding through.

Last winter, Rick remodeled our downstairs bathroom. I had returned from spending several days with my Mom, who was nearing the last days of her life. When I walked into the house, I immediately went to see the progress in the bathroom.

And found this piece of artwork. This time, he drew it with pencil. He’d learned his lesson!

Last week when I arrived home, I should have anticipated a special “message.” As

I approached the door to the new bathroom, I noticed that the 2×4” had been strategically positioned. Once again, Rick left his own special message just for me.  The effect? Just as special and deeply meaningful as the other times he’s added a huge smile and joy to my day.

Why do I share these stories? Not because we have a perfect marriage. Not because we never have any bumps in our marriage road. Not because Rick is the best husband out there. Well, he IS my best husband.

I share these little stories and examples about marriage to encourage those of you who are in a long-term relationship. Marriage and staying in a relationship take dedicated time, daily hard work and endless amounts of patience and compromise. Long-term relationships also need laughter, joy and thinking of your partner more than you think of yourself.

I am fortunate to have a spouse who knows the value and significance of little things meaning a lot in a relationship. Rick knows what I value, what is important to me and fills those desires and needs in my life. He often does it in a light-hearted, goofy and very personal way.

Guess what? It’s highly effective. He makes me feel like a special person who is deeply loved and appreciated. He anticipates that I WILL go seek out the latest remodeling project and check out the progress as soon as I get home.

Are there things that sometimes drive me crazy about Rick? Absolutely. Sometimes, I have to refrain from making a remark that I know I will regret later. Other times, I wish I was more patient. And yes, it would be easier if he just always agreed with me.

Quite honestly, there are probably more things that I do that drives Rick crazy. And he loves me all the same.

I pray that as I share some of these little ways Rick confirms his commitment to me, his ideas will encourage you to confirm your love to someone who is terribly important to you. Great marriages and relationships happen when two people decide to make them great. They demonstrate their respect and appreciation to each other regularly. They add laughter and fun to their relationship. They allow for spontaneity and new things, so their relationship does not become predictable.

And yes, I want to encourage couples to stay the course, not give up and decide to develop a healthy relationship that is mutually edifying and rewarding.

When I walked into the bathroom, I found this sticker on the window. It’s the “approved” sticker from the inspector. For those of you in a long-term relationship, please put your “approval” sticker by expressing love, care and respect to your partner. When you affirm this person time and again, it has a lasting impression on them.

For a spouse who affirms me regularly, I am grateful.

Holy God – thank you for bringing into my life a spouse who goes out of his way to remind me how special I am. I pray we choose to do likewise to those people who mean so much to us. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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