Marriage Takes Three

I was going to post this on my anniversary, which isn't until November, but then I thought, why wait?  I don't know if everyone (or anyone, for that matter)  is already familiar with this poem, but I really like it and have a funny story about discovering it for the first time, too.  A couple of years ago I was boiling mad at my husband for some reason which now totally escapes me (must have been really important, right?).  He probably "forgot" (his favorite word) to put his socks in the hamper again or something equally as heinous. After reading him the riot act and getting myself all worked up about "not being the maid around here" or some such (by the way, he never gets worked up, which aggravates me even more), I thought I'm going to get out of this house for a few hours to cool off and bring my blood pressure down a few hundred notches.  So I headed to my favorite thrift store in search of some little nick-nacky trinket to soothe my nerves.  After looking around a bit, I wandered over to the section with the pictures and came across this beautifully embroidered plaque, which was enclosed in glass in a gold frame and read as follows:

Marriage Takes Three

I once thought marriage took

Just two to make a go,

But now I am convinced

It takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails

Where Christ is asked to enter,

As lovers come together

With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives,

And homes are incomplete,

Till He is welcomed there

To help avoid defeat.

In homes where Christ is first,

It's obvious to see,

Those unions really work,

For marriage still takes three.

Author Unknown

Well, let me tell you, I read that and promptly put it right back down because I could see exactly what God was up to here.  He wanted me to go home and forgive that man I was married to, with all his messy habits, and I wasn't going to do it.  No! I'm mad and I'm going to STAY mad until I'm good and ready to feel otherwise. I'll show him what mad looks like, yes I will. Hell hath no fury like a stubborn Irish redhead, either.  But for some reason, I couldn't get out of that aisle!  Then I glanced over to it again and noticed it had a purple sticker on it, which meant it was marked down 70% (!) so I did a quick calculation of the math in my head.  But why?! I was NOT getting that plaque and I was NOT going to give in that easily.  God had set me up! He probably even put that 70% off sticker on it himself before I walked in the door because he knows what a sucker yours truly is for a bargain! I picked it up again. Wait! I could buy it but still be mad at him, right? Sure, I could do that.  So I walked out of there with my new purchase and when I got home, Mr. messy socks was out on the riding mower cutting the grass.  He smiled and waved at me as if he'd never even been yelled at (how dare he!), but I just tossed my head in the other direction and stormed into the house (yes, just like a 16 year old girl).  When he came in a few minutes later, I handed him the plaque and said in my iciest tone, "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you please hang this up in the hallway above our wedding pictures?" He smiled at me (stop that!) and said "you mean you haven't taken them down yet?" (he thinks he's so funny)  Then he read it and said, "Pretty good advice, don't you think?" 

Needless to say, I didn't stay mad forever and here we are, still Mr. and Mrs. 12 years later.  Of course, he still sometimes "forgets" to put his things in the hamper and ruffles my feathers to no end at times, but overall he's a good guy. I do think God set me up that day though - but I'm glad he did.  I could never be married to someone just like me.

Happy, Happy Sunday Everybody :-) !!!!!