Sept. 19th, 2017
Yesterday we celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. 13. Whoa. And here I am celebrating/posting/giving credit to it, a day late. Oops. Daryl and I have often joked over our years of marriage, that in some ways, he’s much more like the girl in this relationship and I’m much more like the typical man. It’s true. Whether it’s that way because of past hurts, past relationships, past lifestyles or whether I’ve changed and don’t carry the natural “romantic” gene I’m not sure, but either way, he ALWAYS remembers our anniversary, ALWAYS remembers my birthday, ALWAYS gets me something and celebrates in some mushy, sweet, romantic, roses all over way, and I…well, sometimes I forget it’s our anniversary, sometimes I don’t get him anything for his birthday and forget to even say happy birthday (that’s only happened once. For real.), and sometimes (most of the time) I don’t have time or the desire for romantic nonsense that only makes me feel uncomfortable. Isn’t it uncomfortable? Like, I feel like I have to smile a certain way, and looking in to his eyes never feels natural. It feels like I’m trying to recreate a movie scene or something where the people are so stupidly stunned by the other’s “something” that they just sit and stare and smile weirdly…who does that?!
Anyway, I’m thankful for a husband who tries to keep the romance alive and does a smashing job…if he didn’t, I’d quickly forget what it’s like to be “romanced” and how that softens my heart and mind and makes me feel warm and fuzzy, as if I’m loved no matter what I look like or how much weight I’ve gained that year because I was pregnant, or how I just totally screwed up the night before and yelled at him. He still thinks I’m beautiful and wonderful and wants to hold MY hand. He still likes to be around me, and he still likes to buy me things, and still has the brain power to think of ME during his super busy day and buy me a red mum for our anniversary because he knows I love flowers, but even more I love to decorate, so a mum is the best of both worlds for a September anniversary (some of you hear me!). I’d forget what its like to feel KNOWN, to know someone has my back (even when my back is nasty-figuratively and literally), to feel I can change the light bulbs and fix the toilet if I want to but that I don’t HAVE to do it alone because he’ll gladly do it for me, to know he’s on my team, on my side, FOR me. So, here’s where I’m gonna get spiritual…isn’t that kind of like Jesus with us? And how would I know that so well without such a great example of that in my life (Daryl). No, I’m not saying Daryl is Jesus. He’s not. He’s way not. But, he’s probably the closest example of Jesus I have ever seen. He’s the most servant hearted, most loving, my biggest fan, my biggest cheerleader, the most selfless person I know in regards to me. And He romances me even better…isn’t that what natural marriage is supposed to parallel? It is, according to the Bible. He’s supposed to “love me like Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her” according to Ephesians 5:25. Dannnnnnggg. That’s a big assignment right there! I’m kinda glad I’m not a man. Fo’real, people! Love your wives like Christ loves the church…wow.
I’m going to admit right now, being a Christian man or woman is not for pansies. If you’re not a Christian, you’re taking the easy way out. Yep, I said that. I’m not sorry either. There’s too much at stake anymore for us to pussy foot around and not “hurt your feelings” so we don’t push you away. Jesus is a man. Jesus is real. Jesus is coming back soon and He loves me so much better than my husband any day of the week, even though I have an AMAZING HUSBAND WHO I COULD CRUSH ON ALL. DAY. LONG!!!! Men who love Jesus, know you are going to be rewarded for what you do to love your wife as Jesus loves the church. That is not easy. Wives are not easy to love….I’m one of them. I’m happy one second and demanding he change every freakin’ thing he’s doing in his entire life the next and I’m sorry. I really am. But he loves me through it. He really does!! That is so, SO AMAZING. He knows where I’ve been. He knows what’s been done to me. He knows how I’ve not been loved and how I’ve been mistreated. He knows me. And he LOVES me. He tries his hardest every day to make sure I know he thinks I’m beautiful. That is amazing. He tries every day to show me he would rather be around me than anyone. Oh, GOSH. You guys, he’s so close to Jesus it might be blasphemy.
Amen.
Jody Simmons 