The Little Things in Life

Tonight our household was a flurry of cardstock, heart stickers, Hannah Montana temporary tattoos and, of course, candy. It is that time of year again as schoolage children all over start having their Valentine's day parties. Ours happens to be a bit early this year because they are getting a long weekend-dubbed "Winter break".

Rachael, our oldest, sat on the floor, surrounded by a sea of red ICarly cards, patiently lettering each with the names of her classmates, for the most part by herself. Every once in awhile she would ask what came after this letter or that in a friend's name, and I asked her several times if she had remembered everyone in her class. She assured me she did.

Emma, on the other hand, signed each of her cards with her name after I filled in the name of each preschooler she goes to school with...except for the new boy which, unfortunately, we don't know his name and also can't find "this list" that he is on. So, with Emma in the morning will go a blank card in which I hope her teacher will take the time to fill in said boy's name.

Rachael, however, will get to spend her Valentine's day party home with us, her third day home from school, because today the doctor said she has strep. I feel so bad for her that she will miss her Kindergarten party, but there will be others.

I love Valentine's day, unlike so many. Not that I don't remember those tumulutous pre-teen years when you still gave out Valentine's but you worried that you wouldn't get any from the boy you really liked. Or, I suppose it could be like Charlie Brown and not get one from that one special girl, the one with the red curly locks. But, on the whole I really do like Valentine's day- as long as I remember that it's not about what I will get (because if that was the case I'd be disappointed every time!) but it's how I spend it with those I love that really count.. If I remember that then Valentine's day could be like Christmas- not just one day out of the year but it could be every day if you want.

After trying to read a catch up with one of my favorite blogs today, it lead me to another blog that is quickly becoming a favorite. Her most recent post is about loving your in-laws. This is not generally an issue for me. Yes, I get upset and frustrated with them- who doesn't an any relationship? But, on the whole I really do love them almost as much as my own (and, in the case of my father-in-law- even more so than the man who would be my father). But- I began to question my approach to my relationship to my own husband. I have tried to be patient, and loving, and kind. But, I haven't been so good on the keeping no record of wrongs. Even as I lecture my own kids on keeping score, I silently keep a scoreboard on their dad...and it's not pretty. "Did not help clean up the living room....again.." "Forgot to take out the trash...again." "Just had to throw HIS trash away for him...again." It's easy to get frustrated. It's easy to pray for change...on his end. And, then I wonder why I see no results.

When was the last time I simply prayed for the Lord to help me love him more? I'm not sure I ever remember praying in this way. I certainly could love him more, and I don't mean that as an insult either. Even if I loved him more today than I had ever before, there's always room for more. The love of Christ is infinite, and ours should strive to be as well.

Dear Father, help me to show more love toward my husband. Even in the most difficult of times, and even in the most seemly impossible of circumstances, help me to love him more. Remind me of 1 Corinthians 13, and especially the part where it says that love "keeps no record of wrongs," and help me to do just that. In Jesus' holy precious name, Amen.