We started our love journey like so many others, a chance meeting, an introduction, a “How you doin’?” Next thing you know we’re sitting high atop Mt. Honeymoon rubbing the arrow wounds on our backsides left by the chubby cherub in a cloth diaper, Love Potion Number Nine flowing through our veins.

Mt. Honeymoon is the glorious peak where Cupid abandons his dazed victims. The scenery is fabulous from up there, hot/glamorous partner, amazing views and vistas. However, the only place to go from there is down, or so it would seem. Like many we lived on Mt. Honeymoon for a long time, sustained by one another exclusively. But one cannot live on flesh alone and when you’re dehydrated the cool waters flowing in the River of Reality are all too tempting.

I expect seeing your partner with your knew, knowledgeable, all- seeing vampire eyes is a lot like what Adam & Eve must have experienced after swallowing the last tasty bits of the infamous apple—naked truth! We started to think things like, “I used to think he was such a loyal, dedicated worker, now I feel second best or neglected.” “She once seemed so organized and on top of everything, now she’s more of a nag!” With the honeymoon over, it was time to find out just what we were really made of.

As any married person knows, the journey is not easy terrain to navigate, it’s difficult and treacherous. We made our way slowly down Mt. Honeymoon and began to explore the hills and valleys around us. Sometimes we worked together, other times we gave each other slack and ventured out on our own. There have been moments along the way when I caught my husband vigorously rubbing the rope, which tethered us together, back and forth over the sharp edge of a rock. Once he tried to stuff raw meat into my pack as he whispered, “Here kitty, kitty.” Likewise there’s been a time or two or six when I purposefully tripped him with our rope. I’ve also threatened that if he made one more mention of my spending habits and the budget, I would push the boulder I was hiding behind down to pummel his body! But as a couple we made our way in and out of gorges, canyons, across dry dusty plains, (where we were hit by flying tumbleweed more than once), we managed to find an oasis or two, (our boys), we made it to the summit of various mountain tops, and camped on a plateau now and again.

We have not always agreed on how the money should be spent, where to vacation or how the kids should be disciplined. We have been selfish over the years, taken one another for granted and disappointed each other along the way many times. But by the grace of God we’ve had that time together. Whether we loved each other completely or not, we loved each other. I love him today, more than I did when were stuck on Mt. Honeymoon together and look forward to the opportunity, (God willing), to loving him tomorrow.

Over the holidays a friend of ours was diagnosed with cancer. During the past year of getting to know one another we have become close to him and his wife and therefore have made ourselves available to them as much and as often as possible, in whatever capacity they require of us. Naturally their situation has caused me to consider my own husband and our life together; hence this column. Our friends’ fight to stay together needs to be for something. For me it has helped me to realize that love is a blessing and a gift that we all give and receive. Should you be privileged enough to have and hold another’s heart in your hands, honor, respect, cherish and love that heart every day you’re given.

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