The Little Things in Life

Day two challenge: In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.


While this morning I copied over the challenge to end my previous blog, it wasn't until at lunch that I read the devotional that went with today's challenge.

It said something that caught my eye.

In my own words, it said something to the effect that when a wife does acts of kindness for her husband, and does them for him first, without any pressure or coercing, it frees the wife to not have to worry about her rights.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. I mean, I know how I should feel, but of course deep down I am a creature of sinful nature, and sinful thoughts. After all, it's been about my rights all along, right? My right to feel that I'm being taken advantage of because I'm the one that's expected to work full-time, cook, clean, do laundry and take care of three small children! Why should I act in kindness to him if he can't do anything for me ever.

Ah, the sinful self. In today's modern age we would agree with this argument. Why is it that men feel they have the right to sit down and watch tv or read the paper and put up their feet after work, when a woman's work is never done? Shouldn't it be equal? 50/50, after all this is a partnership, isn't it?

In a perfect world...maybe. But since when has this ever been a perfect world? Not since the fall of man has this world ever experienced perfection...and it's gradually getting worse. And, when you think of it, what character trait is getting the boot probably more so than any other? I could be wrong, but perhaps if there were just a bit less "me first" and a little more kindness in the world I bet we could all just...

...get along?

So, that's it.

So, not only do I bite my tongue today (although I made some comments that, although never came out blaming him outright, you could tell the intention behind the words. I forgot myself momentarily.) I find some way to show some unexpected kindness.

When we arrived home from ballet/ karate tonight, I start on dinner. Not planning ahead properly as to have enough to buy what's on the menu list this week, I mentally inventory our cupboards and decide that spaghetti is probably our best bet. Stopped for sauce, the important thing missing, plus a jug of milk (we need to buy stock in our local dairy farm!) and a can of mushrooms. As I prepare the meat and the noodles I looked around for the bag of salad that I knew would be turning very soon if not eaten promptly, when lo and behold I also found zuchinni and squash needing to be eaten.

Talk about a supper fit for a king! Or at least some mafia godfather anyway. So dh was holed up in our bedroom, studying (he finally received his book today and so he could begin his class.) I bring in a fully prepared plate-spaghetti, sauteed squash, salad and garlic-cheese bread. I hand it to him with a gentle remark about my student being hungry. This was my unexpected act of kindness...I often plate his dinner, but the unexpected part was that I brought it to him in our room so he wouldn't have to stop studying. He liked that. Will I always choose kindness? Probably not, but I will do it perhaps a little more often.

So, now I close. I'm trying to adjust my sleep schedule to stop staying up so late at night. My goal is to get up earlier in the morning so I can get more done before going to work. I'm just too tired to get it done after work and putting the kids to bed. I still have to create my checklist of things to do for the morning and time is getting away from me. Goodnight.