Being in Love

Merle was a nice guy. Polite, chivalrous, attractive. I didn't really consider him my type. He was athletic, I was clumsy. He was business-like and quiet, I was a little more gregarious and the artsy-fartsy girl. I should have known I was in trouble when my uncle liked him, and then again when he crashed my best friend's wedding looking for me when I hadn't called him in a week.
My mom said he "twinked". That's basically mom's term for "He's hooked and he doesn't even know it.

It took time for him to grow on me. I guess the flip point for me was watching him interact and care for his niece and nephews when we travelled up to visit his family. I could tell he would make a great Dad and that was very important to me. The funny thing was I had been in two other serious relationships and had practically scripted The Runaway Bride before Julia and Richard made it a hit. So when he asked me to marry him, he knew he'd better get me down the aisle before I had a chance to change my mind.

Fast forward oh, about 30 years. Yes, THIRTY! It's funny the things that change and the things that don't. He's still quiet and I'm still the lingerer in the lobby after church. He's still the business guy and I still hang with the creative types. We've run the marathon of parenting our three girls and now enjoy the back seat as they create their adult lives. I still watch in wonder as he connects with our two grandboys and envelopes himself in their world.

Being in love hasn't been the glue that has thing that has helped us journey together for this long. The feelings of love and romance ebb and tide with the seasons and circumstances of life. There have been times the tie that binds have been stretched over miles and many hard challenges. The relationship we have has been the work and the blessing of God. Our faith in Jesus is the thing that has kept us rooted and growing. The cool thing is because our foundation is in Him, the feelings of love and admiration, respect and honor have developed more richly than anything Hollywood might muster. God's mercies are new every morning, and the chance and choices to exercise love are new every morning as well.

Merle is still a nice guy. He is a good man and cares for his family. He loves me and still turns my head. I'm still 'in love' with my man, but I'm thankful that means so much more than simple attraction. I'm grateful that my thirty year journey with him has helped me test and prove the promises of unconditional love.