My husband and I have been together for 20 years. At times when I think about that, it doesn't seem that long, but when we look through old pictures I can tell it has definitely been 20 years! The lines in my face and hands give it away! It is funny though when I walk in a line down the hall with my 5th graders that sometimes I am overlooked by other faculty :) Back to the 20 years...
In our relationship there is a lot of give and take on both sides. We both are super busy- we have demanding jobs and we both coach. We also have 4 kids at home that are just as busy as us. It seems like we are always juggling a schedule- who's taking the girls to dance, who's picking them up, who has Jackson, who can make the game, when is your practice, etc...
We also live in a house that has to have things done- you know things like laundry, grocery, cleaning, yards, the list just goes on and on. As the 20 years has progressed I have been able to let some of the house stuff slide; it just doesn't seem as important to me anymore if everything is lined up just so. If all the laundry is current, because for us that could be 2 easy loads a day!
But Sundays are important to us. While Derek is not around much on Sundays during travel ball season, during the off season he is usually around for church. We are in the same Sunday School class, but I teach, so I rarely attend with him. The past Sunday they discussed Proverbs 31. Two things surprised me: one- he had never read or heard Proverbs 31, and two- that a group of men would be discussing it! However, after church he came home and he told me that he needed to apologize to me! In fact, he said that in Sunday school while all this discussion was going on- that he had in fact married the Proverbs 31 wife. I was blown away. That is probably the greatest compliment in our 20 years. He went on to say that in Sunday school he told our group that I do all of those things, and now that when he looks back on it, I have probably always been that way. It just about, well actually it did, make me cry. You see, as a woman who love Christ this Proverbs 31 wife seems at times unreachable. She seems to be so together, to always put others before herself, to really live her life for Christ. I have read this chapter many times; always striving to be "that wife". When I went back and read it after our conversation Sunday, I did see my life in those verses. It made me feel good, that finally after all those years maybe I had arrived! But it didn't make me feel comfortable- it made me realize there is so much more to do.
During our discussion our son walked in, and joined in. Derek was explaining that "compared to a lot of his other friends" he does "way more" than most of them. I told you there was a lot of give and take in this relationship, and Derek does and has always done a lot! Anyway, I said, "I have never compared myself to those that do less than me, I have always compared myself to those that do more than me." And my husband and son look at me, and Derek says- that is a profound way to think! And it kind of made me chuckle! Really... doesn't everybody compare themselves to those that do more than them? Isn't that the way everybody's brain works?? Apparently NOT! But, my husband said- that is the way I am going to start thinking! I told you he was great! It's conversations like this that make me see how richly blessed I am!
In other news we start our 3rd week of school tomorrow. Jap had his official first game of the season Friday, and as he said- playing quarterback had him running for his life! We didn't win, but it is always fun to go to the Village afterwards and eat and LAUGH!!!
Macey and Briley are busy dancing, Jackson is having a ball (maybe too much fun!) in Kindergarten, and I continue to enjoy my class!
Blessing continue to fall daily and for that I am always THANKFUL!
