Pleasing and Grieving
I really, really love my wife. Seriously. I believe she loves me. Amazing, isn’t it?
We’ve been doing life together for over 25 years. In fact, I’ve been under the same roof with Sherry more than she was with her parents growing up. That just boggles my mind. Sometimes I wonder what knowing Sherry at 5 or 13 or 16 would have been like. I wonder if she would have chosen to still be with me if we learned to color side-by-side in preschool? I’m pretty sure Sherry’s cooties would have given me great pause and distance. (smile)
Sherry’s parents had the great advantage of seeing what she liked and what put a smile on her face as she developed, grew, and blossomed. My wife’s loving parental units knew at an early age how Sherry’s love for cats, chocolate, and music were what pleased her most.
It took me a while to understand what makes Sherry tick. Our burgeoning relationship required some study and experimenting before I could consistently put a smile on Sherry’s gorgeous face. In some ways, I’m still learning what pleases Sherry, but after 25 years it’s an exploration that I gladly engage.
Did you know that some husbands have never grasped the concept of pleasing their wives? The exact opposite pursuit of being pleased has been the only goal and standard of many a husband. Even a Valentine’s Day gift, ultimately, is an effort to get what he wants. That’s not much of a relationship, but rather a very selfish, one-sided, conveniently legal arrangement. Hmmm.
No matter how young or seasoned your faith journey is, what have you discovered is pleasing to God as you develop your relationship with Him? Some believe the totality of God’s interests are in pleasing us. The concept of pleasing God never crosses their mind. That’s not so much a relationship as it is a very self-centered, selfish, one-sided, convenient religion. Hmmm.
How will you please God on this day? Paul says we can grieve God (Eph. 4:30), and we can put a smile on His face (Eph 5:10). I’m bettin’ you know exactly how to put a smile on someone close to you, and how to brighten the very face of God. Let me know what you decide to do on this day.
I absolutely love to hear you talk about Sherry and how much you love being married to her. It gives me joy to know that in 25 years, Dustin and I can have a marriage that we both enjoy being a part of. Not enough people talk about marriage for the wonderful gift that it is. I also love how you are so fervent in your pursuit of a Godly life. It makes us want to be just that excited and fired up about it. THANK YOU for sharing your life with Cumberland. It means the world to Dustin and me.
Excellent point!!
Today, with God’s help, I am trying to be more patient with my children and trying, again with God’s help, to be an example of the wife of Proverbs 31. I was a single mom for several years, so submitting to a spiritual leader (my husband, God) is difficult. I felt for so long that I had to do EVERYTHING for EVERYONE all the time and it was exhausting. Now that God crossed my path with my husbands and we have become a family, I still find it difficult to let go of the reigns…but he is patient with me and he loves me through it just like God does. I am so grateful to God for the blessing of my husband! And I pray on a daily basis that I be the example God needs me to be for my children and that I submit to God’s calling for my life and for my family and that I become the wife illustrated in Proverbs 31. Thanks Alan for this humbling reminder!
I feel the same way about my wife(Loary).After 43 years of being together and going through the hardships and tradgedies we both have been through it has made our love for each other even stronger.It has taken a lot for me to understand what pleases my wife,but she has been patient and to this day it is still hard for me to express or put in to words what Loary means to mean. God has had to be patient with me because I’ve always been headstrong wanting to do things my way instead of listening to God. I don’t think I’ve brought too many smiles to his face but I keep striving to bring a smile to his face by the things I do that are pleasing to Him.
Alan,
I feel the same way about my wife(Loary).After 43 years of being together and going through the hardships and tradgedies we both have been through it has made our love for each other even stronger.It has taken a lot for me to understand what pleases my wife,but she has been patient and to this day it is still hard for me to express or put in to words what Loary means to mean. God has had to be patient with me because I’ve always been headstrong wanting to do things my way instead of listening to God. I don’t think I’ve brought too many smiles to his face but I keep striving to bring a smile to his face by the things I do that are pleasing to Him.