Date night!

   After almost 22 years I still get excited for date night! I feel like a little kid going to the carnival! I cannot wait. All day I think about it. What will I wear? Where will we go? I am so excited to have my beloved all to myself. He is Rick, Jill's hubby and best friend and fellow weirdo. He is not Daddy, not Rick the programmer, not deacon Rick. Nope he is just mine... for the night anyway. We talk and laugh, we go have a nice dinner and conversation. We don't worry, but we do dream together. Tonight we talked about how we could turn our house into a dream home. All the amazing things we would do if money was no issue. We dream about where we would go if money was no issue. We dream about what our boys will be one day. And we talk about where God will take us. And we are refreshed and renewed. We fall back in love and we need it!
   I invest in my marriage during these times. I respect that man! Wives don't talk about him as though he were a failure. He can't do anything right! He's so selfish! And the worst for me, He's such an idiot! Well he chose you sister, so he can't be too stupid. Right? Remember the good things about him. What did you fall in love with? Was it his smile? Was it his deep voice? Was it the way he held the door for you? For me one of the first things I fell in love with about my husband may seem really small to you, but to me, a girl who had been raised on negative speak and was fluently speaking it myself, it was his reprimand saying, dang Jill don't be so negative. Yep that's no biggie, I get it. But for me, that was huge! Think the best of people and yourself. Hmm, simple enough right. But, if you've never been given an example of hope and positivity, it can be life changing. But that's not all, if you ask my husband what some of his favorite things about me are,  he will tell you,that I am bigger than life, that I feel big and I put myself out there, my laugh and my sense of humor, that I'm smart and kind. Wow, when you've seldom heard these things about yourself... well scripture says it best, the power of our words holds life and death, and he spoke life into me. Before I ever knew the love of a savior, he showed me a glimpse of unconditional love. And led me to the cross, to meet the lover of my soul. And I love him for it!
   Husbands be to your wives what Christ was to the church. He gave her all! He did not say I have work to do. He did not say I'm just so busy with life. Get the door for her. Do not let her carry a heavy load when you can help her. Do not put your needs ahead of hers, because Christ never did! Love her and hold her in high esteem. Lift her up when in her company, and when you are with others. Always be in her corner, and she will do the same for you! Love one another! It's that simple.
  God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill