An airboat ride in Georgia
While our children were all home we always tried to get together for date nights and have vacationed together with just the two of us. As the children all left home and I went back to school I started exploring what my interests were and figuring out my own autonomy. I am still a wife and mother, but I wanted "me" time and to develop my interests and talents. I came to love hiking and the outdoors which I think I always had, I just didn't have the "me" time to devote any time to it.
My husband was fine with it at first because it only involved leaving for the day and I returned at night, however as my passion increased I started doing overnights and adding to my "where to hike next list." I joined two hiking groups and every weekend was devoted to that adventure. After a year or two, it became apparent that my husband and I started becoming more distant and he wasn't as excited anymore when I returned and had my detailed report of my outing. At first, I was annoyed and wanted him to join too, but hiking was out of the question for him, his passion is painting.
In my previous blog, I posted a picture of painted toenails and related his talents of oils, acrylics, landscapes and painting techniques. I have discovered that if I take lots of pictures while I hike he finds one that interests him, and he paints it. Now we share a common interest that brings us together. He will accompany me to some short hikes and we eat out when I come down the mountain or walk together through the local nature center. Even if I don't hike but want to get out we will take a drive and explore including looking at interesting areas that he might like to paint. We take pictures and he will choose one to paint from our outing. I have an eternal perspective of us being together for not only time but for eternity. If that is the case, then I must make sure we "get together so we can be together."
Tim used to go to doctor appointments by himself because I found them quite boring and I would rather do something else, however, I find that when I will go with him and we have good talking sessions it shows I am turning to him. Some may see these times as me sacrificing my time, but actually, it is purchasing our eternal life together. In the book "Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage" by H. Wallace Goddard, he makes a powerful statement. "So it turns out that our sacrifices are not sacrifices, but purchases. We "sacrifice" our puny preferences and God rewards us with eternal joy. What a bargain! In Heaven's economy, so much is gotten for so little!" (Pg.41-42)
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