“That’s why they love me!”
He’s right! People do love him. He is charismatic, vibrant, funny, and loves to make people smile. When he walks into a room, people stop what they are doing and pay attention to him. This was partly why he was a successful business man and a good father and husband.
I’m not sure what he is thinking when he says, “It’s why they love me.” I can’t even explain why I love him. He and I didn’t have a great relationship before he moved in. My personality doesn’t match his which often resulted in conflict. And since “everyone loves him”, that meant that I was the problem. But, now that we live together, we have learned to enjoy one another. When Thunderfoot is taking a back seat, Ben and I share some sweet moments.
The Peel
Sharing a couch is one way to spend time together. He works on an electronic Sudoku and I read an electronic book. We don’t talk, although he says his numbers out loud. He catches me by surprise when he names double digit numbers like “37”.
We also watch lots of football together. In fact, we watch endless repeats of recorded football footage. I never watched football in my life, nor did I have an appreciation for it, until now! He never tires of watching the same game because it is all new to him. Even though it was played last fall, he forgets and thinks he has to wait until next weekend to watch the next game. Occasionally, he stumbles upon recordings of people playing Madden (a football video game). He loves the action and excitement, but he can’t figure out who the players are!
Ben sees me as the cook and the laundress. I just need to provide ketchup and wash it out again. However, I love the gleam in his eye when he anticipates a good and messy meal and straps on his apron before dinner.
A good back scratch can solve many problems. The world stops moving around him and he can suddenly focus on something he understands. He says, “Oh, that’s good,” no matter what topic was on his mind before.
He loves watching the Sound of Music. It has lots of love and uplifting songs in it. Even though we may have watched it yesterday, he dons a look of excitement and says, “Do you know what I want to watch tomorrow?” Yep, I do know. So cute!
Though he is “determined” to lose his belly fat, he winks at me and says, “I have a special project in mind for tonight.” He loves being the naughty boy and sneaking a treat when he knows he shouldn’t. Sure enough, a couple of hours later, out comes the ice cream and chocolate sauce.
He loves letting the cats in and out of the house. He calls them dogs and whistles to get them to come. After his breakfast, he puts his egg-stained plate where he can see the “dogs” licking it. Today, he told me that he wanted to take one of them on a walk.
The Fruit
When our lives are so full of urgency and anxiety, it’s good to savor the tiny tender moments filled with joy. If Ben were living elsewhere, we would miss those moments and he would have fewer of them. There is a part of me that is so glad he is here with us.
Not only am I learning so much about life, love and the Lord through this experience, I’m also growing in my love for Ben.
Lord, you are a god of reconciliation. I would never have thought it was possible, but you have reconciled Ben and me through this experience. Thank you.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NET Bible)
So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.
Colossians 1:19-20 (NET Bible)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Proverbs 16:7 (NET Bible)
When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
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