Flowers, Magazines, and Thoughtfulness

You already know, if you've been reading here long, that Ryan and I find a lot of joy in being intentional about our relationship. I started to say we work really hard at being intentional, but when I stared at those words, I realized I shouldn't insinuate we strive for it in a chore-like way. We do it because we want to. 

But lest you think that all such endeavors are crafted from hours of careful planning, Pinterest-hunting and from-scratch cooking, let me assure you that the little things on the fly matter every bit as much as the big things that take time. 

It doesn't have to take hours of time and loads of money to show love. 

Today I want to show you just a little handful of things Ryan has done for me - even in the first ten days of this year, to show his love.

***

Late last spring, I spoke at a women's retreat and the committee left a little tray of goodies in the room where we stayed for the weekend. Among the gifts was a simple white farmhouse-style pitcher, filled with fresh flowers. I loved it so much that when I brought it home, I told Ryan I wanted to keep it filled with fresh flowers all the time, because they bring joy to my day. So every couple of weeks, when we grocery shop, we'll pick up a fresh bunch of flowers at Aldi.

When I started working, Ryan told me he wanted me to have joy in the office and at home, so we'd be getting two bundles of flowers now. One for work and one for home. So this past Monday, when I went for my first full, uninterrupted week, I carried my work bundle of flowers with me, and I've admired them from my perch all week long. I've gotten many compliments on them from people who stopped in the office, and I can't help smiling my biggest smile when I tell them they're a love-gift from Ryan. 

***

Last weekend, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up a gift card for someone. It was dark and cold, the store was packed, and I'd been traipsing around in heels for seven hours and could no longer feel my feet. Ryan said he'd just run in and get the card and come back, and I could rest in the car. (No arguments there!)

When he came back out of the store, he was carrying a sack. I was unaware that the store had gone to jumbo-sized gift cards, so I was a little perplexed about that sack! When he slid into the front seat, he pulled out the latest copy of People. 

"I thought you might like to read some of this, so I got it for you."

I think the last time I read People, I was still working at the station, and reading stacks of magazines was part of my job description. I have savored every page of that magazine, but more than that, I've savored the knowledge that he thought of me in line at the store and knew I'd love the stories in that issue. 

*** 

A little bunch of wildflowers...a random magazine....the gifts don't have to be lavish for me to feel loved. In fact, they don't have to cost anything at all! He brings my first cup of coffee to me every morning. He helps around the house in a thousand ways, including washing dishes almost every day because he knows it's one of my least favorite chores. He drops me off and picks me up at the front door of church every week so the Indiana wind doesn't promptly undo what I've spent an hour assembling at home. 

It's all in the little things. Tiny acts of love that matter in big ways. And in demonstrating them, he reminds me to show the same kind of love outward to those around me. A note here. A text there. a surprise cup of coffee or plate of cookies. 

It matters.