Marital Moments Issue 12 - Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh!

Our family spent the afternoon at the Marine Museum play area yesterday. With such amazing fall weather and leaves, we had a blast. Our kids connected with another families children who were there and my daughter proclaimed them, "Forever Friends!" as we were departing.

My husband and I opted to go out to dinner after a long fun day instead of rushing home to get dinner started so off to a restaurant we went - twigs and leaf pieces still stuck in our hair.

Our littlest one had played hard and was not our usual well-behaved child ...instead he would scream UNLESS he got to sit on the booth between my husband and I. Thankfully, they seated us near the back exit somewhat away from other diners. Actually, the littlest one was pretty much sitting on me throughout dinner...My husband looked over at his vision of a wife...leaves and twig remnants in my hair, rice, guacamole, chicken, sour cream, salsa etc. smeared all over me and said...

"Maybe I should just pull the van around back here and you could make a run for it out the back door!?"

I instantly envisioned the van screeching up and my husband eagerly motioning for me to "make a run for it!" While I knew his heart in it was to protect me from the potential embarrassment of running into someone (as it seems we do every time we are out to eat), I had never anticipated that my husband might ever suggest that I "make a run for the van" as he screeched the tires around back instead of choosing to walk with his wife out through the front doors of a restaurant. I had a choice...do I choose to take offense at his comments or laugh with him about the concept? Meanwhile, he saw the delay in my reaction and could tell that I had been processing his words so I saw him quickly check his comment in his mind...

"Oh, I TOTALLY did not mean that how it sounded..." he began.

I assured him that I really did understand how he had meant it. But that he was lucky that we didn't own a dog! :) He insisted that we walk out together (arm around me) to let the world know that he was proud of this "mess of a wife" that he had been blessed with...

It is so easy to take up an offense. Even an unintended one. We need to be careful not to let our own insecurities entrap us in offense. Nothing positive or good comes from it and people keep their guards up with those who are easily offended - thus blocking true friendship and intimacy.

Romans12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

I'll be dashing out the back door now! Many Blessings!