I love being with this lady

 

I would just like to take the time in this post to talk to you about how much this lovely lady, pictured with me in the picture above, and I love each other.  She is my wife and I love her to pieces.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  It seems that as we are going through this transition, we keep loving each other more.  We will be married 4 years this summer.

Don't get me wrong, we have our fair share of issues--like any married couple has--Sometimes I struggle with being insensitive, talking too much, and trying to make things logical; Heidi says she can be overly critical.  There are times when we disagree on little things or just plain don't like each other.  What do we do about it?  Get mad and storm about the house?  Slam doors and yell at each other?  No, we aren't that dramatic, like in the movies...but it does take time and patience.  Sometimes, we just need to be alone for a bit--and gather ourselves--when we come back together we apologize and move on, together.  When I am working and traveling and Heidi is working her tail off at school, sometimes we don't have much energy left at the end of the day.  Add a dash of stress, 2 cups of irritability, or some sort of cold or stomach ache--there are going to be times when we aren't nice to each other, or we just don't want to talk.  Heidi and I try to make it a point to just sit and talk together--to connect--no strings attached, no matter how we are feeling that day. Sometimes that means talking about how we are feeling and why--just caring for each other.  We have to be very intentional about it, or it will pass us by. It's hard work--to always, unconditionally, care for each other...because we aren't wired that way.

We are all wired, as humans in our sinful nature, to care about ourselves--our needs and our desires.  How do you work this out inside of a marriage?  One must turn to the life of Christ to truly understand what unconditional love is.  And not only did Christ lead a life that was unselfish and characterized by serving others, he gave the most powerful gift of unconditional love ever known, on the cross of calvary--taking all of OUR sins so that we can spend eternity with Him.  It's as if Jesus tells us, through his Word and actions, "Jon and Heidi, love each other unconditionally--no matter how much work you have to do, no matter how much you don't want to do the dishes tonight, no matter how much you don't like each other right now, no matter how bad your day was, or how uncertain the times may be--because you made a promise to love and serve each other for as long as you both shall live. Love one another, as I have loved you."

So, Husbands and Wives, love each other with all your heart, love unconditionally--no matter how much work you have to do, no matter how much you don't want to do the dishes tonight, no matter how much you don't like each other right now, no matter how bad your day was, or how uncertain the times may be--because you made a promise to love and serve each other for as long as you both shall live.  Love one another, as HE has loved you!