This morning I watched a very powerful video... it is entitled, "The Gift of an Ordinary Day." If you are a parent, it's well worth your extra seven minutes to take a peek. Here it is:
The past eight days have been just that... extraordinary island days spent under a warm sun, full of ocean breezes, blue water, and sand between our toes, with my high school sweetheart who still makes my heart skip a beat when he grins that goofy smile at me with his cute dimples. Earlier this year, I decided we should spend ALL YEAR celebrating our 25th anniversary. So what better way to kick it off than to take a trip early in the year and have a big celebration event in the fall. Kevin agreed... BECAUSE.... I have spent 24 anniversaries complaining about the actual date. See... we share our wedding date with the biggest party date of the year... New Years Eve. I know, I know... what were we thinking?
So this year is OUR YEAR of celebration.
Of celebration of our ordinarily EXTRAORDINARY life. =)
For the last eight days, Kevin and I got to talk about the last 32+ years since we met... and got very excited about the future. Because we are on the cusp of a whole new season of life. We talked a lot about what the next 40 years will look like... how we will spend the time, why it matters how we spend our time, where we will spend the time, and WHO will we spend our precious time with... (grandbabies... lots of them!!!)
God has blessed our family immeasurably more than I could ever begin to thank Him for... But the biggest blessing of all has been this seemingly ordinary, but to me, very extraordinary, family. And let me just say right here... I can't WAIT for the next ten years. Maybe that's why every moment has been so extraordinary for me. Maybe because I am one of those glass half full kind of gals, I spend life looking forward, instead of behind. And therefore, I'm reminded of the time, sometimes in heart-rending kinds of ways, (see video above), that has passed and that I should TRULY CHERISH and SAVOR every single moment of every single ordinary day.
One day this wek, lying on this picture-perfect place, on Smuggler's Cove Beach, (yes... that's the gorgeous beach below),
Kevin says to me, "you know, we could write a book, and people might even buy it, on how to stay married." To which I laughingly replied, "well, with 30+ years together, we may actually have some credibility at this point." Matthew Sink, a minister at Pinedale Christian Church, recently pointed out to me that divorce ran just as rampant in the church as in society as a whole. And there's SO MUCH I have to say on that point. Maybe this and future blogs can be part of the HOW I spend the next years.... paying some of my blessings forward.
I relate dissatisfaction in general, to job-jumping (which I have been guilty of in my younger days), or sadly, people-jumping; everyone looking for that greener pasture. Some folks are never quite satisfied with what they have. Or the job or the person NEVER quite measures up to their expectations. But my advice is to look inward and upward to succeed in life. Satisfaction in life comes from having a direct trunkline to the Heavenly Father and that knowing that no matter what we face, HE is there to face it with us. He'll pull us up, out and through every situation. Right there in the New Testament it says: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord goes WITH you; he will NEVER leave you nor foresake you." Deuteronomy 31:6.
With this promise, you have the confidence to apply to all other areas of life. Sure... in the last 24+ years, I've been REALLY angry at Kevin for some grievance or another.... but instead of staying angry, I've learned forgiveness, and patience. Remember that wedding recitation.... Love is patient, love is kind, etc.? Comes right out of the bible... 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.
Next time your spouse makes you mad, change your reaction. Intentionally. Find SOMETHING in him that you can compliment... even 10 minutes later. He'll be surprised... NOT what he expected. I once heard somewhere that it takes 10 compliments to negate one negative comment to a person. And negativity can become a DANGEROUS habit. Words are weapons and words deliver affirmation. They tear you down, or build you UP. Choose your words carefully. And even if you have the happiest of marriages, take time to read this book... The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. It will change your marriage. Seriously.
I've rambled all OVER the place in this first blog... and hopefully, it won't be the last time.
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