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Slightly Annoyed But Eternally Grateful: Thoughts on Marriage
Slightly annoyed; eternally grateful. That's where I stood the other day in the bathroom, on the precipice of slightly annoyed and eternally grateful.
I had just finished washing my face and stood there dripping wet, searching in my temporary blindness for a face towel...it wasn't there. URGH! Rick had removed it. "Had he not known I would need it?" I was slightly annoyed. "Ah, but he had removed it to wash it. In the laundry. The chore he owns! For which I am eternally grateful!
Every marriage union is different and ours is certainly unique. Early on in our marriage Rick came to the realization that although I do many things well, I am not so good at laundry. In the past, I have been known to run out and purchase more undergarments while my dirty clothes sat mingled in a heap on the floor of my closet. This is not, however, how Rick works.
The laundry room is always buzzing. Always fragrant with detergent and softener. Always warm. The clothes are always neatly folded on the dining room table, ready for me, the seemingly “lazy laundress” to put them away. Which, as I am sure you can guess takes me longer than Rick would prefer. He is then slightly annoyed, yet eternally grateful when the clothes make it to their appropriate drawers and closets.
I am learning as we round the corner to our first milestone anniversary, number ten, that there are many opportunities for both annoyance and gratitude.
Marriage is like that. Teetering between two emotions,it is a constant struggle. The melding of two very different worlds: that of your husband's family and your own. Together there is a combining that happens—kind of like the pairing of clean socks. A balance of night and day; light and dark; right and wrong. A place where mutual understanding is needed. A place where surrendering our will is often required.
Surrendering our will is a difficult thing to do. We all want things our way. Even when we desire the will of God, we tend to want God to submit to our will. We are all so human, so flesh-filled. We are often reminded of this in our marriages.
From the Biblical account of Adam and Eve, Eve was found guilty of succumbing to her own will: "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened..." Genesis 3:6-7 NIV. Neither Adam, nor Eve did the will of God. They both committed sin because of it.
God has a perfect blueprint for marriage. When we obey His commands, we are able to live in harmony. Our marriage is in His will. The annoyance turns to gratitude with His help. We are able to see the intent and sincerity behind the most menial tasks of our day-to-day lives when we submit to God’s ways and views of each other.
"Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body of which he was the Savior...Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleaning her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless...He who loves himself loves his wife." Ephesians 5:22-23, 25-28 (NIV).
Many marriages experience a great deal more annoyance than gratitude. It’s important to strive for gratitude! I've always believed that Rick and I were meant to be. God ordained our union. He knew all along that we would fall in love and marry and have the privilege of ushering two precious gems through this world. He also knew that laundry would be one of the areas in our marriage that we would experience the greatest annoyance and the most rewarding gratitude!
Copyright © 2008-2015 Samantha Ewing
Reader Comments...
| 2011-06-24 20:10:05 ""Very inspiring article and great job!.Looking forward to more articles." Darlene" - DARLENE |
| 2011-06-07 21:07:38 "Loved your article. Very uplifting, thought provoking and funny! Good for you Samantha!" - Julia |
| 2011-06-07 07:58:25 "Love it!! Especially the pairing of clean socks part. Can't wait for your next one!" - Kristine |
| 2011-06-02 00:31:17 "Great job Samantha, you are a writer! God loves to shower blessings upon us, his kids, even as we bless others with the knowledge of him. Keep writing for His GLORY." - Kerriel |
| 2011-06-01 15:54:38 "Wonderful my dear friend!" - Mindy |
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