07/06/2023
I’m going to be real for a minute and tell you something important.
My husband and I need a vacation alone, desperately, like all of the other parents out there. He needs to see me as my old self, and not a mom on the brink. ON THE BRINK, I tell ya. That vacation is this weekend.
And the devil knows it.
My husband and I are like any couple that’s been married for ten-plus years. We annoy each other half of the time. I am an epic pain in the ass and he then refuses to speak to me or just doesn’t pay me attention when I need it. ‘Round we go.
But, we love each other and our life together.
However, the devil loves to watch us fight.
He loves nothing more than to destroy any excitement I have about an upcoming trip, and wants to make sure we don’t reconnect and grow closer to God and each other while he isn’t looking.
Today, I was off work and excited to spend the day with my husband and kids. I literally sat down with a bagel, and turned on the Today Show, which I never get to see, and saw yet another politically charged news story. I made some comment to the air about the story. My hubs and I align pretty closely in politics, but he leans more right and I lean more left. But as you know, just the slightest lean at all, will tilt the whole dang thing off its axis when it comes to political conversation. Thus, I avoid political talk in general, usually. The next thing I know, I’m rinsing my plate in the sink and we are having a heated global warming discussion at 7:10am. This then led me to make different plans for my entire day that did not involve bringing my fool of a husband anywhere with me.
WHY? Why on earth did our entire day implode over the dumbest, most idiotic thing?
Because we were in a good mood.
We were going to spend a fun day together.
And the devil wasn’t having it.
Had I been more patient and calm, I could have just stopped mid-sentence.
Had he been more patient and calm, he could have just walked away, unbothered.
We are both stubborn and proud.
Had I been more on alert, knowing that something was likely to be dropped right into our happy day as the perfect distraction—something to pull us away from each other—I might have done better today.
So, here I am telling you guys: If you are about to go on vacation, or renew your vows, or have your baby dedicated, or buy a house, that these memorable life events are likely to be landmines for dumb arguments leading up to that day.
Spiritual warfare seems spooky and I don’t like to talk about it, but I guess that’s what this is. Whatever your weakness is (mine, among other things, is just letting something go) will be exposed anytime you are getting closer to goodness and love.
I don’t know how you avoid falling into this trap with your spouse, because, obviously, I’m in the depths of the trap today, but I have hope that I can help someone else avoid it. So:
Pray.
Avoid political conversations at all costs.
Avoid hanging curtains or putting together a desk. Or doing anything with instructions.
Avoid driving long distances together.
Avoid talking about a budget.
Avoid talking about money or credit card bills at all costs, actually.
Maybe just don’t talk to each other, and just smile and nod and get to your big life event in one piece.
And pray again.
And I dunno, maybe hug each other?
Best of luck my married folks. ❤️
Someone tell me it gets easier.
Xoxo,
Holy Moly Motherhood 💕
