Beloved
The hottest couple ever as interpreted by one of my daughters. Check out my husband's hairy arms. And those bear-like hands. So manly. They almost make up for the E.T. neck and peanut head. I must say I am quite pleased with my tresses, however. Feminine and fun!
My husband and I recently celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. In some ways, ten years seems like a long time – like forever ago. (We’re official card-carrying members of the Old, Married Fart Club right about now.) But in others, it seems like just yesterday that he was courting me, his tall frame making me feel small and safe.
Not long ago we were walking together when we rounded a corner and turned onto a sidewalk that ran parallel to a busy street. A flurry of words were coming out of my mouth, and I wasn’t really paying much attention to my surroundings. I was walking on the outside, closer to the passing traffic. Without saying a word my husband gently placed his hand on the small of my back and eased me to his inside so he was the one nearest to the street.
I kept talking. He kept listening. But my heart hitched, and his act did not go unnoticed. This is something my husband has always done. He never lets me be the one closest to the street.
There have been plenty of times when I didn’t pay much attention to how he subtly shifted to the other side of me. Sometimes I did, but I would mentally roll my eyes, failing to see the simple gesture for what it was: A sign of his love, a sign that he wants to protect me and keep me safe, a sign that he would give his life for me if he had to, a sign that I am his beloved.
My husband has a strong protector instinct. Our basement is stocked with military MREs (meals-ready-to-eat). He has packed solar blankets into each of our cars. He saves and plans for a rainy or scary day. I used to tease him for being so prepared and cautious. I tend to be someone who frets over the small stuff but I’m rather nonchalant when it comes to big things – like apocalyptic disasters or getting run over by a passing car. But I don’t tease him any longer. I love that he wants to keep his family safe, keep me safe. I love the big and small acts he does that show how he’s watching out for me.
There’s a difference between chivalry and chauvinism. My husband wants to protect me not because he sees me as weak or incapable of taking care of myself but because he cherishes me.
Ten years ago we danced our first dance to Ben Harper’s “Beloved.”
It seemed like an awkwardly long song for my poor husband to dance to with his new bride because if there’s anything he doesn’t like, it’s being the center of attention. But the song’s lyrics were true then as we began this journey into marriage. As we danced, I felt like his beloved one.
I still do.
Your eyes shine through me.
You are so divine to me.
Your heart has a home in mine.
We won’t have to say a word.
With a touch all shall be heard.
That’s it. With one simple touch, his shielding body taking the place of my own on a casual walk to dinner, I know how much this man loves and honors me.
*And if and when he reads this, my wonderful, private man will turn slightly pink, and then he will start gagging and doing enough eye-rolling for the both of us, but he will humor me and laugh with me and love me, and I’ll feel beloved all over again.
The Forever “I Do”
Today my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. I really wanted to put together a beautiful, brilliant tribute to them, but there’s not as much time for writing these days. I’ve been nesting. I’ve been enjoying being a hands-on mom again. We’ve eased into our second official year of homeschooling. The girls have been happy to have mom on her feet again. We’ve baked banana muffins. We’ve gone on short walks (it’s still really hot around here). We even had a water balloon fight the other day. Life’s been good. Busy but very, very good.
Still, I couldn’t let this momentous day slip by without doing something. So in honor of this marital milestone, I’ve tweaked a post (quite a bit, really, so it’s not just a complete re-post) I shared two years ago when they had *only* been married 38 years.
Before I get to that, however, I just want to give a shout out to my amazing parents:
Mom and Dad, how lucky I am to have you as parents. Your marriage and the fact that you always made it a priority has been such a gift to me and to my relationship with Dave. Over the years, you’ve shown me that choosing to love is more powerful, more beautiful, more fulfilling, and more sanctifying than simply being filled with warm and fuzzy feelings. You’ve also never stopped reminding me to keep a sense of humor. I love how we can all laugh together even when we’re faced with sorrow, sickness, or stress. Above all, you’ve taught me to remember that marriage isn’t about winning or losing; it’s about loving God and each other even when it would be easier not to. Congratulations on this milestone! Here’s to many, many, many more years together!
The tweaked post:
Thirty-eight Forty years ago today with God as their witness my parents made a promise to love each other for better or worse, in rich and in poor, and in sickness and in health. Mom was 18, and Dad was 19. Just two kids in love, but that didn’t stop them from taking their vows seriously.
On their wedding day they had no idea that worse might mean struggling during some very lean years, being forced to dole out tough love to a child grappling with a drug addiction, or many, many losing seasons for the Cubs. Nor did they know that better might translate to welcoming healthy grandbabies into their lives, seeing the world together through work trips, or saving for and then being able to buy a dream house on the lake. They had no idea that sometimes they’d be rich with hope and love but that there would be other times when they would have to work at this marriage gig and would occasionally feel poor, at least in spirit, despite the many riches in their life. They could never predict the sickness that might befall their relationship – from watching loved ones succumb to cancer or other illnesses to dealing with brain aneurysms, trigeminal neuralgia, autoimmune problems, and rejection letters from long-term health insurance.
When they were first married, Mom dropped out of college to support my dad, the art student who infamously slept through all of his art history classes yet somehow still scored top marks. She was the hidden force that propelled him up the corporate ladder. He traveled all of the time while she remained back at the home front, caring for little kids while grappling with a mysterious neuromuscular condition. I don’t remember her ever complaining much, although I do remember her watching a lot of Cubs’ games.
In more recent years, I’ve watched my dad take care of his bride – not only financially but emotionally and physically, too. When she had major back surgery a few years ago, he held her like a newlywed, her arms wrapped around his neck. Only he wasn’t carrying her over the threshold. He was lifting her out of the bed when she was too weak to do it herself.
I remember my dad cracking jokes when her incisions were still fresh, and she begged him to stop.
“Stop making me laugh! It hurts,” she said through her uncontrollable giggles. My mom is my dad’s best audience and always laughs at his jokes.
Throughout the years, I’ve witnessed my parents’ affection for one another. I’ve also seen them fight and then later reconcile and forgive. I’ve watched them laugh and kiss and tease one another. I’ve seen them support each other during rough patches. I’ve heard them pray together. I’ve witnessed them make their marriage a priority.
Because of Mom and Dad’s commitment to one another and to marriage, I learned early on that how you feel when you’re in love isn’t as important to a enduring marriage. Your feelings are about you when marriage is ultimately about making someone else happy. It’s what you do – not just how you feel at any given moment – that matters to the person you’re in love with.
And what my parents have done is simple yet extremely difficult somedays and even some years: They have renewed their vows over and over. They have made a daily “I do” to one another.
They have affirmed over and over, I do love you despite all of your imperfections. I do want to serve you even when I’m tired, worried, annoyed with your quirks and bad habits, or stressed out. I do care about you and honor you, and I’m going to try to prove it to you with my actions even when I don’t feel like it every day for the rest of my life. I do love you, and I always will no matter what.
I do over and over, forever and forever.
Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad (Gaba & Papa)!!!
My mom and dad at my younger brother's wedding, May 2011
Still Crazy After All These Years
…but not in Paul Simon’s wistful, lovesick kind of way.
I’m still crazy about you after all these years as I was when we were dating and staying up way, way, way past my bedtime talking on the phone for hours and hours. (What did we talk about?)
Love is the law of your life. This helps explain why you do marriage so well and why you’re such a great dad. It also helps explain why you spend your entire Sunday pressure washing our old fence so our charming (code for old) house will look at its best, why you patiently extricate toys from their plastic prisons on our kids’ birthdays, and assemble 2,235-part playhouses without one single complaint. It’s why you work so hard to provide for our family – and to take care of your patients. It’s why you give me a break even when you’re tired and probably pining for your own downtime. It’s why you make me so thankful today and every day that you are my husband, my best friend, my personal Mojito-maker (when I’m not pregnant), and my favorite comedian who makes me laugh before I have a chance to cry after a tough day.
For nine years now, you have given me all that I need, more than I ever wanted, and often far more than I deserve.
Thank you for being you, and thank you for loving me for me.
Happy anniversary!
