June 17
A Fresh Beginning
Husbands, go all out in love for your wives.
Colossians 3:19 (THE MESSAGE)
I’m staring another year in the face and wondering how to make it better than last year. And not just for me....
This morning, I’m sitting in front of the gas fireplace with the fake logs. High above on the living room wall is a little sign—one of my wife’s favorites. Kris bought it a couple of years ago on one of our rare downtown shopping trips after entering one of Bend's small tourist shops—one of so many on Wall Street. As I recall, she spied it in the back of the store ... behind the knick-knacks ... past the colorful blankets and well beyond the pottery. She read it once and knew we had to have it. Rather simple, it says, LIVE WELL – LAUGH OFTEN – LOVE MUCH.
I mouth the words to myself and know there is wisdom here.
The sentiment more than warms my heart as I look from the sign to the one who had me hang it there. She lies fast asleep on the couch, worn out by a brisk early morning walk with a neighbor in the Central Oregon cold . Her rest is well earned.
This Christmas season she went all out for family, and today, the last of the relatives finally left. It’s been 10 non-stop days for us. Shopping, decorating, and entertaining 16 people in our lovely home (mostly my family); sledding, bowling and going to movies; singing, celebrating and worshipping; snowball fights and football games; jigsaw puzzles and playing Hearts; fixing ow-ies and playing nursemaid; fixing meals and helping others in so many ways. She did it all. And I am thankful. She has been so good to me ... for us....
This year I am convinced—and convicted—I need to show her my thanks ... and more. Her homespun message on the wall rattles my brain. Love much....
This year, this is where I begin with Kris ... love much....
Father God, I am such a klutz. I feel so inadequate ... even after all these years. Give me wisdom as well as the determination to show Kris the love she deserves. Help me be the man You want me to be—all the man she needs. Make this a truly great year for us all. Amen.
A Fresh Beginning
Husbands, go all out in love for your wives.
Colossians 3:19 (THE MESSAGE)
I’m staring another year in the face and wondering how to make it better than last year. And not just for me....
This morning, I’m sitting in front of the gas fireplace with the fake logs. High above on the living room wall is a little sign—one of my wife’s favorites. Kris bought it a couple of years ago on one of our rare downtown shopping trips after entering one of Bend's small tourist shops—one of so many on Wall Street. As I recall, she spied it in the back of the store ... behind the knick-knacks ... past the colorful blankets and well beyond the pottery. She read it once and knew we had to have it. Rather simple, it says, LIVE WELL – LAUGH OFTEN – LOVE MUCH.
I mouth the words to myself and know there is wisdom here.
The sentiment more than warms my heart as I look from the sign to the one who had me hang it there. She lies fast asleep on the couch, worn out by a brisk early morning walk with a neighbor in the Central Oregon cold . Her rest is well earned.
This Christmas season she went all out for family, and today, the last of the relatives finally left. It’s been 10 non-stop days for us. Shopping, decorating, and entertaining 16 people in our lovely home (mostly my family); sledding, bowling and going to movies; singing, celebrating and worshipping; snowball fights and football games; jigsaw puzzles and playing Hearts; fixing ow-ies and playing nursemaid; fixing meals and helping others in so many ways. She did it all. And I am thankful. She has been so good to me ... for us....
This year I am convinced—and convicted—I need to show her my thanks ... and more. Her homespun message on the wall rattles my brain. Love much....
This year, this is where I begin with Kris ... love much....
Father God, I am such a klutz. I feel so inadequate ... even after all these years. Give me wisdom as well as the determination to show Kris the love she deserves. Help me be the man You want me to be—all the man she needs. Make this a truly great year for us all. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 10:43 PM
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