A promise. A vow. A pledge. It isn’t new to feel compelled to take extra steps beyond your spoken word to ensure the security of a promise. In today’s culture, a pinky promise, is the entwining of the pinkies of two people to signify that a promise has been made. Jesus had to tell his culture that they didn’t need to add to their promises to make them more valid. Matthew 5: 33-37 “And…
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I made my husband cry within the first weeks of marriage. During 31 years We have fought about money. We have fought over where to travel to see who. We have fought over whose memory is more accurate 🙂 depending on the issue. We have fought over frictional force formulas when trying to help kids with homework. Among other topics. (both engineers) Everyone’s list is different but likely long. In conflict we either go to…
Leave a CommentThis short piece is one part of my personal morning routine. You can read the whole article by subscribing to my blog. When I got my married, Gary and I made some agreements. We made a commitment to practice going to sleep and waking up at the same time. For over 30 years that habit has been a daily practice that has been an anchor for our marriage. Having nine children, has presented many obstacles…
Leave a CommentConversation before marriage: Gary: How do you want to set up our bank accounts? Do you want separate or joint accounts? Mary: Let’s make them joint accounts so we can talk together! Conversation after marriage: Gary: I don’t see a recording for this check #. Can you tell me what that is about? Mary: I don’t want to talk about it.
Leave a CommentAgreeing and carrying out an agreement are two different things. One of the habits Gary and I agreed on 31 years ago, was going to bed at the same time. From a marriage perspective, there are all kinds of obvious good outcomes. From a health perspective sleep is necessary! It all sounds like a good idea until you have to put it in practice. And that was the rub for me. If the open windows…
Leave a CommentLong-distance dating meant something different back in 1986 before cellphones and the internet. I lived in Rhode Island. Gary lived in Maryland. When we got together weekends were fully packed. One weekend in particular illuminates one of our differences. The cliff walk in Newport hugs one side of the perimeter along Newport’s famed mansions of storied Gilded Age families such as Rockefeller and Vanderbilt. One of our weekends we took that walk. I recall all…
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