I still Do
So today, my love, after 9 years together, after living both heaven and hell on earth, I want you to know with complete certainty: I STILL DO.
So today, my love, after 9 years together, after living both heaven and hell on earth, I want you to know with complete certainty: I STILL DO.
We’ve faced a lot of hard times, many of them self-inflicted, but I still choose you. Our love is tested and proven—and even though we’ve sustained many gashes and bruises, I am proud of the battle scars. I think at the end of the day, enduring and committed love is better than any fairytale. It’s real. And it’s hard-earned. I think we always value more highly what we had to fight for. We have one heck of a story!
Standing there beside my other half of 10 years, I couldn’t help but notice how easy it was to gaze up at him with the same love and admiration as a newlywed. It got me wondering how many other couples today could say the same, and I felt the Holy Spirit gently nudging me to share some of our relationship secrets. Maybe they will help or encourage a couple or two.
Since Lorelai was born I find that I have to remember my husband. Especially to cherish him. He’s always here— helping, supporting, providing… but I’m preoccupied. With work. With the cares of a home. With her– our flawless, beautiful baby girl. Rather than look at him adoringly with a sparkling of desire in my eyes, I’m more likely to manage a “go team” smile and desire for him to take the baby for an hour so I can take a break to work, or shower, or watch Gilmore girls on Netflix.
I have a tendency to be a perfectionist. When it comes to work, hospitality, marriage, parenting, my faith, my relationships… I just want to get everything right. (Yes, I realize this is impossible. But it doesn’t always stop me from trying.)
I began my marriage as a very controlling wife. Seriously. It was my way or the highway. I never thought I’d be like that. In fact, I’d always judged other women who were controlling and thought they were nuts.
Isn’t it funny how we hate the parts of other people that we most fear are part of us?