
A while back while in the hairstylist’s chair, this song enters my consciousness. And throughout my being I felt that inner … sigh. That sigh that says, “I heard every word, I felt every emotion, I just experienced the cry of my own heart through the words of a stranger.
I wrote recently about my flawed ability to persevere, and how I have a three year lifespan of interest in just about anything from my job, to hobbies, to even my relationship with my hubby, and it is in that, my relationship with my hubby, that the words of the song in the hairstylist’s chair, spoke to me.
It does not make me proud to admit that my hubby has heard from my lips, statements like:
“I’m done.”
“I cannot keep doing this.”
“I don’t see a future for us.”
And those are just the statements that I am willing to share in writing. Perseverance is not my strength! But, commitment is my strength, and I am thankful for that.
When we married, over twenty-three years ago, I know I expected this marriage thing to be easy, after all we loved each other, and that is all it takes, right? Well about six or seven years into our marriage, when neither of us were as quick or willing to apologize, kiss and make up, as when we were first married, easy was not how I would have described marriage.
There have been failures on the part of both of us. We have had seasons of frustration, boredom, annoyance, anger and apathy with and for each other. There have been times when each of us have failed the other in our initial vows to the other.
Now, twenty-three years later, I know that we had not even touched the tip of the iceberg of what love is when we were married. Now, I know that love is not a feeling, it is a state of being and doing, even when it is ugly, messy, uncomfortable and inconvenient. In the words of someone I heard back when we were first married, “marriage is about bad smells and bad noises,” and if I might add to it, bad attitudes and bad behaviors.
But, it is not all bad …
In our years of marriage, we have had seasons of great joy, great happiness, beautiful memories, mutual love and support of each other. My hubby is my best friend in this world, he knows me like no other, and there is no other who I want to share my darkest nights, or brightest days with. It is with him that I feel a sense of completion that is other-worldly. It is with him that I feel the most real me.
So, as I sat in that hairstylist chair, with the following song penetrating my mind and heart, the statement that came to mind so very clearly was:
“I won’t give up on us”
“God knows we’re worth it.”
Wow…That was truly honest and beautiful! I wish I could hit “LIKE” many times, because, I could absolutely relate to every word you spoke. Sadly, after 20+ years of marriage I stopped singing and hearing those words. The feelings became hollow and empty, for both of us. All though we are no longer husband and wife, we share two amazing daughters and still a connection that will never be broken. I truly don’t think that when you are with someone that long, you truly ever can be disconnected. Thank you for sharing your strength and wisdom, and mostly your sincere honesty!
Thanks Shell,
It was honest, so honest I sent it to hubby first so that he could proofread it, and let me know if there was anything he would prefer I not publish. His response, “there are things I would not print, but I recognize that this is your way of expressing yourself, so go ahead and publish it.” I am sorry that your season as husband and wife has ended … I am sure that has not been an easy adjustment for any of you. I agree with you that when you have been with someone that long, “you truly ever can be disconnected,” especially with the two of you sharing the lives of your two daughters! Thanks again for your comment, it truly is meaningful to me.
Carole