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Mood Rings
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
As beautiful as it was, even her engagement ring was no match for
the stars in her eyes. The year of waiting was perfectly poetic.
Love was lavishly embellished with euphoria. Neither of them could
ever envision less. Really. Every possible moment was spent
together. They dreaded the end of each day when they must part until
the morrow. Really.
Then they got married. He, fresh out of college, headed out to his
new “career” each morning. She trudged through another semester of
school. Soon enough, holy bliss would present mundane
responsibilities neither had realistically thought through.
Fortunately she loved cooking, because he did love to eat. She spent
hours planning gourmet meals (spaghetti and busy day casserole).
Really. He bragged about having a bride that could actually cook.
His complements kept her enamored with her apron, but cleaning was
another matter. There seemed to be nothing creative or rewarding
about dish duty or folding laundry.
She was raised in a matriarchal environment. The motto: “If Mama
ain’t happy…” He grew up with the “patriarchs” of east Texas. Papa
went to work. Mama did everything else. Oh, and Papa watched
football. Imagine her shock when he pointed out that their little
abode needed domestic attention. She mused in disbelief as she
watched him demonstrate what she should do. Dust the baseboards? Who
does that? Polish the chrome fixtures? Me? He’s kidding! How could a
starry-eyed girl know that her husband could ever prefer a clean
house and a football game to a walk in the park or a meaningful
conversation with her? How?
Some months in, “the newlywed game” was in full swing. She had
perfected the feminine art of hoping her husband would guess what he
was doing or not doing to displease her – darling her. He darling
didn’t do guess work. He darling was ready to swap her diamond for
something more appropriate, a mood ring. True love was still theirs,
but the stars were tarnishing in her watery eyes. They had much to
learn, and God would send her to her naive knees to pour out fresh
tearstains on her very dusty Bible. The book opened to Psalm 143.
Verse 10 would give pause to pray. Teach me to do Your will, for You
are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. There, at
the foot of their unmade bed, real life emerged, and God would be
faithful to His word.
Forty-five years later, steadied by the Rock they learned to stand
on together, he and she are still bragging about God’s goodness and
grace! God will do the same for you, Beloved. Stay in His word. He
will do the same for you.
Toni |
