Renewing Our Marriage

Joetta & I taught a youth class together

Approaching 400, had to scramble for cake, fooled the Teens on which car..

Inside the loneliness I've created in-between Joetta and I is the opportunity of taking a second, third and one hundredth new looks at my wife, into her beauty; especially of heart. Listening has finally turned homeward. I so wish I had begun at the start instead of when, for her and us, it seems so very late. But if I've learned anything from following Jesus, he has a way of creating meaning from very limited options.

So: on this 14th of February, 2024 I will listen:

To Joetta
To her needs
To her life rhythms
To her Missional engagements
To her as a grandmother
To her loves and likes
To my own renewed and deep affection
To her quite legitimate distance
To her fears of what I may yet do.. or fail to do
To God, who was and is the witness of love that binds
To my heart returning to home
To my heart returning to God
To my heart in its dangers
To possibilities

https://youtu.be/gO8HAzw-ZJA?si=NZF8aLWIgE7OtbmG

This is the gift I've offended more than any other. Certainly not the worst offense, but the one that underlies al others. "Mission" became a substitute for Marriage. At least they both begin with "M".. yea, I agree. Meaningless [another 'M'.. :)]. Below is a list of ways Jo an I can value our time, the one thing we now have more of. It is random, emerging from conversations with Jo, God and self.. perhaps you will add to it.

+Watch Joetta's favorite TV program at least two-three times a week.
+Play Sequence or any game.
+Watch together WSCN 's worship and Renton's Next Door Church worship.
+Go for walks (that's a hard one).
+Shared Meal Prep/Clean up: Do the dishes for every meal.. at least most meals.
+Road Trips (Day and Overnight)
++Day: Bremerton, Vashon Island, Cascades, Elbe (Mt. Raineer area),
North toward Canada, Ride the Light rail to Tacoma,
Centralia, Newburg (Joetta's childhood), etc.
++Over-Night: The coast, Levenworth, Vancouver WA, Vancouver BC,
Small historic towns and communities, Nampa Idaho to visit
grand-children or Twin Falls and area (my childhood),
Randle (my teen years).
+Devotional Moments together or just silence.
+Diniing out with friends like Andy-Liz, neighbors, Ken Sr. and Sylvia,
Shaun and Kristen, etc.

Excerpt: Whereas Joetta loves God, deeply as she does her family and me--at least until I crushed her spirit by sin--her love is the result of integrity of spirit, expressed in presence, gifting and wisdom. My love for God is passionate, heart felt, my integrity growing out of that primary relation. However. in most of my life I have loved God with my heart, compassion flowing from its source. Yet in my will, not so much.

Link: https://terrylivinginbetween.wixsite.com/musingsofapastorplac/post/reflections-on-our-shared-life