Listening is such an important skill in marriage. Of course, that is easy to recognize in hindsight
We had a great Christmas here, but I did make a major error in the husbanding department.
While out gift shopping at Guitar Center, I found a nice little mandolin with a unique tobacco finish that seemed like a great deal at the time. In the spirit of being frugal I had recently sold a keyboard with the intent of getting a mandolin to play around with.
Apparently Renee knew how much I'd been wanting one and went to great pains to get cash, go shopping, find a good deal, have a case shipped to her sister's house and keep it all hush hush to surprise me with a mandolin for Christmas.
It was pretty heart wrenching when she walked in the door to find me playing the one I bought less than 48 hours before Christmas day. I almost ruined her Christmas. She loves surprises and I completely took that away from her this year.
The real kicker was that she had mentioned several times that I should not buy anything for myself.
Obviously her gift was a surprise, but it is a subtle thing about this gift that means the most to me.
The reason it was surprising is I have a variety of instruments in the closet that rarely get used. I assumed that she had placed no value in what I wanted (to try playing mandolin) because of my record of not using what I already had.
Her gift to me was much more than the mandolin. I like it a lot, but its greatest value as a gift from her is that even though she knows my failings, she went to great effort to give me another try.
She is a model of grace, and I am truly blessed.
OK, you may now fear for my son's safety. He will be exposed to poorly played bluegrass and country at a very young age. But I do know that the lesson reinforced by Renee is a powerful one for parenting too.
There are spiritual implications also of course, and God's spirit in Renee is a beautiful thing. Proverbs 31 describes my wife almost line for line.
So here is me doing my part to praise her...
Prov. 31
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the L
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
So happy New Year everyone... it is sure to be an amazing 2011.
Don J.
