Marriage Monday, Take 1

I enjoy reading Chrysalis' Marriage Monday series of blog posts as well as those of the other women who participate in this meme.

I've never participated in any meme before, so my participation in this week's Marriage Monday is a first in two respects. The Marriage Monday topic for this week is open. Here goes ...



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I love my husband! I suppose that's not a very unique phrase coming from a married woman. I would hope that all wives could truthfully say the same of their spouse.

I like spending time with my husband! Would as many wives also be able to truthfully utter that phrase? If my ears and deductive abilities don't mislead me, I sadly doubt it.

My husband Josh was recently away at a conference for a week (Mon-Fri). The conference was close enough that he could drive to it, but far enough from our home that he needed to stay overnight. In the 12 years that we've been married, this was the longest we've ever been apart. Neither of us liked it. We missed each other. We talked on the phone one night and chatted online 2 other nights.

While Josh was gone, I happened to post on my Facebook status that he was away for the week and I missed him. Then, on the day he was coming home, I updated my status to say I was excited about it. I received a comment from a friend saying something to the effect of being more excited when her husband was leaving for a few days than when he was coming home. I don't know this person well enough to be familiar with her marriage or to know for sure if she was joking, but I certainly hope she was. If not, I feel sad for her and her husband.

This friend's comments aren't uncommon either. Yes, I understand the need to be alone once in a while, but the way this and similar comments are often phrased imply that the wife (I'm saying wife because that's who I usually hear the comments from.) doesn't like being with her spouse. I know that the comments are most likely tossed off jokingly or sarcastically and meant to get a laugh, but this is your spouse you're talking about. Even if the speaker is only joking, how would your husband feel if he heard you? How would you feel if your spouse said the same about you? Didn't you marry this person to be with him, spend time with him?

Maybe I'm naive and just don't get it. Maybe the fact that Josh and I spent our college summers apart when we were dating because we lived 2000 miles away from each other had some bearing on wanting to spend time with each other in our marriage. No, we don't do everything together, but we enjoy being with each other. We enjoy spending time together, even if it's just grocery shopping or running to the hardware store. (Notice it's enjoying the time together, not going to the hardware store itself, per se.) ;) We've both thought that it would even be nice to work together someday.

It hurts my heart to hear someone say they would rather spend time without their spouse than with them. I feel so sorry for that couple. One of the reasons God created marriage was for companionship (Genesis 2:18). I love my husband and can't imagine living life without him. I would never want to give the impression that I don't like being with him. He is God's best earthly gift to me.

I love my husband. I like spending time with my husband. I am blessed!