DESTINATION GOD

I LOVE YOU

3 little words. And, oh boy, what GREAT BIG little words. But not just words. If it is, you’re missing the point.

I have mentioned that marriage is not as hard as many people would like you to believe. In fact, I think it is as easy as 1-2-3. 1 was “Do”. 2 was “Consistency and Grace”. 3 is “I Love You”.

In the article “Do”, my point was that a couple should do those things Philippians 4:8 tells us to “think about”. “Consistency and Grace” was a reminder that we need to treat each other the way we used to when we were “young and in love”, that’s being consistent. And when one of us doesn’t, the other needs to exercise a little grace.

“I Love You” is a little combination of both of those.

I was on my way home the other day when I had the opportunity to do something I have not been able to do often --- buy flowers for my wife. We share one car, and she generally is with me most everywhere I go. So surprising her is a bit difficult. But the other day I was driving myself, and the urge just overwhelmed me. I stopped and bought her 6 roses.

You know what was interesting? The reaction I got as I walked through the store with those flowers. 2 guys were shopping with their little children, and both of them looked at me as I walked by with that “Hmmm, that’s probably a good idea for me too” look. The lady who checked me out went (altogether now) “awww”. An older man who worked there commented, “That’s the way to do it”. As I walked out to the car holding the roses (they were the only thing I bought), a lady on her way in, across 2 lanes of the parking lot, said, “That’s so sweet”.

And, no, I wasn’t in the “dog house” looking for a way out. Such cynical people read this website.

As I write this Christmas is approaching. We have a couple traditions in our home during the holidays. And one of them involves leaving a gift for Santa. Karen knows that her Santa likes eggnog and homemade cookies, so she will leave some out for the “old man” on Christmas Eve. In gratitude for the gift, “Santa” will clean some long-overlooked nook or cranny of the house. One year it was the linen closet. Another it was the kitchen cabinets. This year I believe it will be the garage, since Santa and the Mrs. have recently moved and not everything is unpacked yet.

And it goes both ways. Karen knows I like sports. Especially football. But I do not turn her into a football widow during the season. Whether or not I watch an entire game, no matter how important it seems to be, will not change the outcome one bit. Since Saturday is the only day we can really hang out together, it is not fair for me to ignore her for 6-8 hours as the games play out. Pausing to give her some attention between games or at the half does not tell her she is the most important thing in my life. And I need her to know that EVERY DAY.

But she does know I enjoy it. And she does know I need some “down time” as she likes to say. So there will be times when I will be getting ready to go with her wherever she wants to go, and she will surprise me by putting a pizza in the oven, turning on the TV, and – watch out now -- handing me the remote. Now that is love.

And that is the point.