October 27, 2017
The wood was arranged in the chiminea on the back deck, and when I walked in the front door, the sweet aroma of steak filled the air. It was actually beef stew, and it was even more delicious because we ate outside on the deck, fire crackling beside, and lights twinkling above us. Linda had been listening to a radio program about marriage. The guests talked about doing special things like having date nights to keep marriages alive and growing.
Linda and I don’t do regular date nights. With church activities, grandkids’ sports, music, and drama, volunteering and the occasional other stuff, we run out of time, and if we don’t run out of time, we run out of energy. But we have our own methods. Last night at the swim meet, there was over an hour between the diving and swimming finals. Linda stayed in the natatorium while I found a Tim Horton’s for coffee. While waiting in line, I noticed some coffee-themed Christmas ornaments sitting on a shelf, so I bought one.
“Assume the position,” I commanded when we got home. It happens all the time around here. It means “close your eyes, and put your hands out in front of you.” She obeyed, and I handed her a tiny gunny sack of coffee beans. Tonight wasn’t a payback, but it is how we roll. At another time, it might be lunch or dinner out, putting in the winter’s wood together, or inviting friends over for coffee. Like a garden, a marriage needs to be tended. Even small acts of kindness and consideration go a long way towards reaping a harvest of love. Ours has been bountiful, and will keep us warm even on the coldest of nights.
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