Monday, January 9, 2012 at 5:07AM Celebrating Your Differences
"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences." -Dave Meurer
I love this quote. I read it for the first time last week on someone's Facebook page and immediately
thought about how perfectly it described my marriage. Keith and I are incredibly different. I am easily amused and if you're around me for longer than 20 minutes, you'll probably hear me laugh out loud at least 3 times. I've worked on adding a filter to my conversation over the years but I pretty much just shoot from the hip. I'm completely open about our marriage and my life overall.
What I've just described about myself is the polar opposite of Keith. Although he loves this Club and celebrates its purpose, he's an incredibly private person. He's probably one of the only people still not on Facebook or Twitter and he refuses to go anywhere near it. So many of the topics I discuss on this blog takes him pretty far out of his comfort zone.
He carefully crafts any statement that leaves his mouth and he does his best to take everyone's feelings into account before speaking or making a decision. He's completely open and honest with me but that's only because he trusts me deeply. He is a guarded person in all other regards.
We are extremely different. But that's what makes our relationship so wonderful. Just knowing him has made me a better person. He inspires me to be a kinder, gentler, more loving and humble person each day. And If you spoke with him, he'd say the same thing about me.
We are no different from every other couple who must learn to communicate in their spouse's language. We challenge each other. We strengthen each other. We celebrate our differences because we know we are exactly as God created us, a million quirks and all. We respect each other immensely and it's our differences, not our similarities, that cause us to rise a little more each day to be the person God has called us to be.
I am grateful for my husband. I am grateful for our differences. I am grateful for you, our readers, who continue to join us on this wonderful journey in life as we learn to speak, live and act in love first.
Question: Which of your husband's differences do you respect most? What is something he does naturally - different from what you do - that has inspired you to grow and become a better person?
Until tomorrow...make it a great day!
Reader Comments (24)
My husband has taught me to think of myself first. He's always put himself first, and when we were first dating it bothered me. Then I reflected on it and realized that he was doing things right and I was doing things wrong. I needed to push other things aside, ignore responsibilities that could wait, and make time for me. I'm a better person for it.
Thanks, Jennifer! Putting things aside that can wait and making sure to set aside "me" time is indeed so important. I think men do this instinctively but we as women have to work on it. Like you, I have definitely learned how to make time for me and I'm also a better person because of it. Thanks for taking the time to respond to the question and share your experience with us.
He is quiet and doesn't speak just to fill the air. I get nervous when there is an uncomfortable silence, so I chatter away. I love that he is so genuine when he does finally speak up
Did you have a nice trip to Vegas? Was Garth in person all you imagined he'd be?? :)
@Kasey- I have that same challenge and I'm working on that "chatting" part because God's really been convicting me about it. So happy I'm not the only one! :) Vegas was great and Garth was more than I could have hoped and I went with very high expectations. There were four of us and we all went with high expectations and he surpassed all of them. He had no set design, no music other than his acoustic guitar, no dancers, background singers, nothing. My girlfriend is not a country fan at all. Hates the music. She only went because her husband LOVES Garth and she's one of my closest friends. Needless to say, she was clapping all the way through, got misty eyed in a few places and when it was over her husband said, "You're a country music fan now," to which she quickly replied, "No! I'm a Garth fan!"
My husband is mellow, logical, and level-headed, exactly opposite of my passion, creativity, and impulsiveness. He helps me to look before I leap, to think deeply about a situation before I act, and he celebrates my creativity. He never stifles my passion. He simply helps keep me balanced and he helps me to accept and love being who I am. Being exact opposites isn't easy but it makes our marriage fun, unique, and NEVER boring. His differences make me love and respect him so much and I am a better woman because we are different.
@Amanda- I was reading your comment and thinking how that sounds just like my husband! We are certainly kindred sisters: "My husband is mellow, logical, and level-headed, exactly opposite of my passion, creativity, and impulsiveness. He helps me to look before I leap, to think deeply about a situation before I act, and he celebrates my creativity." Awesome!
My hubby is PATIENT. and does not get upset easily. I am not good at either of those so I respect those differences in him a lot! :)