Late Night Confession

For Valentines Day this year I asked my husband if he was up for a 40-day Love Dare; a scripture based challenge that gives us a principle to apply to our marriage each day for the next forty days......

Today was Day 3 and the principle was "love is not selfish". Most come directly from 1 Corinthians 13. The dare today: to buy something that showed we were thinking of the other. Mine was pretty simple, a bag of Doritos. He'd been talking about them since he finished his bag a few days ago. So, sick as a dog and with the threat of rain, I wrapped up the kids and walked around the corner to the liquor store and got him a bag. I was so proud of myself.

Now when he walked in the door, I was certain he wasn't participating and hadn't gotten anything. He usually thinks my ideas, schemes, are just that. He had made no mention like he usually does to spoil the whole fun. So I figured for sure he wasn't playing along. I was actually surprised we had made it to Day 3.

The first two days were easy though. To not talk negatively and to show kindness. He kinda does that already with me mostly so we don't start any heated discussions. Ha! So this time I was certain he would just be like oh well I forgot. Long day at work. Long drive home. And as he swears so often, no money.

So after he got home unloaded the two small bags of groceries, gave me a hug (which I lingered on quite a bit because I am terribly ill), and then pushed me away because he said there was no babying allowed, he came up behind me and gave me a little stuffed puppy with a heart in his mouth. I was certain he hadn't gotten anything! My face lit up. My poor sick heart warmed up and I was really surprised. Genuinely surprised.

What I learned though is that, I admit, sometimes I do underestimate my husband. Even when he says he is committed. For me, lesson learned. I realize in this marriage I am learning a lot and re-learning a lot about who he is and what he is capable of. I had built up so much hurt & anger pre-marriage that his word was often underestimated. And I see I have carried that right on in. Time to let that one go. Kicked right out the door!

Three down, thirty-seven to go.
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