I've enjoyed an extra helping of gratitude this weekend, and I just wanted to share.
Ryan was gone overnight this past Friday night, and that's not something either one of us particularly enjoys. It's not that I can't survive without him; my goodness, I survived for 34 years before he even showed up in my life. I can survive. But life without Ryan in the room leans toward not just lonely, but dreadfully void of unexpected laughter.
And while I did manage to successfully distract myself in the hours he was gone on his retreat, I counted down until he could come home again the next day. When he drove up in front of the house, I threw my scrapbook to the side and ran to the door to welcome him. I was in the middle of a good thought and a productive scrapbook streak, but even as much as I wanted to finish my project, I was grateful to have him back. Grateful to hear his laughter filling the space and grateful for stories to absorb from the time he was away.
Back when I was single, I heard a lot of wives long out loud for a break from their husbands, and I remember feeling jealous that they had a husband at all - and I couldn't understand why they wanted a break. Personalities are different, and I get that. Some people really do thrive on alone time, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just not wired that way, and for me, our weekend of absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder made me grateful for this gift I have and all the more determined not to take him for granted.
He hadn't been home very long before we headed out with the rest of the county for grocery shopping adventures. For us, it was just time to shop. For everyone else, it was the buy all the bread!!!! pre-snow panic. And indeed, when we awakened Sunday morning, we had a covering of snow that hid a layer of slush. And by the time we got out of church, the temperatures had slipped just enough that the layer of slush had turned to ice.
All afternoon, I read story after story after story about accidents, slide-offs, jack-knifed semis, power outages, and pleas from officials for people to just stay home. I rolled onto my back on Mo and settled in to watch movies while the wind chimes repeatedly bumped into each other outside the house.
Ryan looked over at me and said, "If you still had to drive to Fort Wayne, you would NOT be this calm right now."
I said, "Isn't this Bekah so much easier to love?" He nodded, perhaps a little TOO heartily.
It's true, though. Snow is easier to enjoy when I don't have to maneuver a vehicle in it. Sunday nights are easier to enjoy when I don't have to think about a messy Monday commute.
Grateful. Grateful for my husband and grateful for the changes he's made possible so I can stay home and pursue dreams and cultivate our relationship. Grateful for snowy days that I can fully enjoy from the inside.
Sure, life has its frustrations. Doesn't it always? But I am profoundly grateful for the good gifts I enjoy. I don't take them for granted.
So. Very. Thankful.
8 comments:
Glad he's home and you didn't have to commute!!
I too am grateful for snowy days that I can fully enjoy from the inside. I don't take being able to enjoy the snow from the inside for granted, either. So glad that I can enjoy today with the kids at home (SNOW DAY, YEAH!) but realize it wouldn't be possible without my husband's hard work and his sacrifice. God does give us so many good gifts. Enjoy your (probably snowy- like- what- we have) day!
Tamar - Today is day #2 of being grateful for no commute. It's not that we have a lot of snow - we really don't. It's just that it's so cold that they can't get the ice on the roads to melt. :(
Maria - Amen to the good gifts!! We're in snow again, though I hear it's going to get worse. We really didn't have too much fall overnight, but I hear the roads are already foul. ENJOY YOUR SNOW DAY! Hope it's filled with blankets and coffee and books and movies and naps!
I'm so so happy for you that you get to be home to follow your calling! I am blessed in the same way and I and so so thankful as well!!
And although I'm happy to have my kids home since school is closed today and thankful that I don't have to drive them to school on the horrible roads, Spill the Beans is going to have to wait once again! Bummer! Can't wait to listen tomorrow though!
what a beautiful post. :) Loved your convo with Ryan. :)
XOXO
Tia - I am glad you and your kids are safe and you got to have a day at home together!! Spill the Beans will be there whenever they get to go back!! :)
Polly - Thanks, my friend! And thanks for the encouragement yesterday!
I just love the peace and thankfulness that exudes off the screen whenever you write about this current season of life. It's just so beautiful.
So not only do we only have one toilet (and have only ever lived with one toilet, except for the first seven months of our relationship), we have never owned a dishwasher. Although Dave is really pushing for one this year because, with both of us working, there is little time for dishes.
I like how Ryan clarified, "Best gift ever for your husbands, IF HE'S HANDY!" because I was thinking "This would not be the best gift ever for Dave."
The days when Dave is in all-day meetings, or forgets to charge his phone, I have SO MUCH to say to him. Other days, nah, not so much! Ha!
I love the idea of communion as a miracle and not a symbol. And it so intrinsically becomes a part of you body. And oh Bekah, you would not do well with a common a cup!!! I wrote this before you talked about this :)
There should be a tutorial on how take communion. You are SO RIGHT! Your sentence about the process becoming more important than the actual fact of taking communion is true. And it shouldn't be like that.
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