Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
~ Lao Tzu
Cherishing…
It’s not like in the movies. Where they roll the credits and the absurdly good-looking, skinny folks prance off into the wild, blue yonder with nothing but adventure and excitement and passion and equallly good-looking children in their future. Of course, the good-looking children arrive to well coifed, only slightly flustered Moms after 20 minutes of pushing (and the dramatic breaking-of-the-water-in-the-restaurant scene, which always seemed strangely thrilling to me).
In real life, there’s a lot more sweat. And tears. And long stretches of less exciting stuff.
In real life, cherishing is less about passion and more about dirty socks. And casserole. And scraping your wife’s windshield for her.
In real life, marriage is work. But it’s worth it. Not because of the Hollywood-esque perfection of it, but the gritty closeness. The intimacy of the mundane. The humour that doesn’t come with a laugh track, because no one else would get it, but just the two of you.
You can’t cherish someone in a 90 minute highlight reel. It takes a lifetime.
STOP
Once again, I’m joining Lisa-Jo Baker for her Five Minute Friday writing challenge.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. That is like the one rule we all really care about. For reals.
So here’s me, where cherishing looks a lot like taking out the recycling bin. And for the record, there’s passion too. Especially if you volunteer to wrestle the kids into their pjs and put them to bed, so that your wife can write her blog.
So Here's Us... 
January 18th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Exactly!!! The gritty!! Oh, but to love and to cherish!!
This:
” . . . the gritty closeness. The intimacy of the mundane. The humour that doesn’t come with a laugh track, because no one else would get it, but just the two of you.” ~ this ~ is good!!
Thanks. {and no thanks for a sound track for my life this last week}
January 19th, 2013 at 9:53 am
I think we were on the same track for FMF this week. Hope you feel better!
January 18th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
So true. “To Love and to Cherish” becomes less about who brings flowers and more about who takes out the trash!
January 19th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Well said! I mean I still love flowers, but acts of service are much MORE meaningful to me, especially at this life stage!
January 18th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Agreed. To cherish someone takes a lifetime. Love does not happen over night. Love is a process that blossoms and grows more over time.
January 19th, 2013 at 9:55 am
I think that’s the difference between love and infatuation. Romantic stories focus on the fun and excitement of the latter.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Amen, very true.
January 19th, 2013 at 9:55 am
Thank you!