Today's Small Thing is one we've done before, but based on my own need to revisit it again this week, I brought it back as a refresher. I have to be really honest with you and say that I didn't post yesterday because I was just too bummed out to sit at the computer and write. I'd done something that SO COMPLETELY missed the mark with my man and we got into one of those exchanges that just took the wind out of my sails. You'd think after this many years of marriage that I'd have figured out how to love my guy in the ways that makes him FEEL loved, rather than continually doing things that seem to communicate lack of caring and taking him for granted. It's amazing how we can hurt each other through little actions (or inactions) without even being aware of it. I totally blew it and then made things worse by getting defensive and bitter. It hasn't been a fun couple of days.
I'm determined to pick myself up and do better today. I've got to move past my own hurt feelings from the conflict and be the one that starts grace flowing back into our relationship. I need to stop having to "be" right and simply "do" right to make things improve. It's not easy, but I've got to change the way I handle things. And I'll start with this Small Thing:
You don't have to endorse Bud Light to appreciate the "Dude" humor of this ad campaign. Somehow they've managed to sum up the universal language of men into the word they all understand.
"Dude."
I've been married to a Dude for 29 years and I've gotta say there's still a lot I don't know about Dude-ness. There are many things I take for granted, like the fact that he's in charge of the lawn-mowing and the mechanical stuff. But there are other things that go deeper inside that Dude heart of his that I hope I appreciate as much as I should.
Dudes get a bad rap these days. They are the butt of jokes and the apes of sit-coms. Commercials make them look like complete idiots. Talk shows make the most out of their short-comings. It's easy to roll your eyes at their Dude mistakes or their lack of feminine sensitivity.
But if we haven't beat it out of our Dudes already, what they have to offer us is so much more than we can muster on our own. We want to tame our men just enough, but sometimes we go a little too far in our expectations. It's really not all that important that he be able to wrangle a bull or fix a motor or sip tea from a china cup.
What really matters is his heart, and his commitment to the life you have together. He may not wear his Dude heart on his sleeve, but he still needs to know that you love and appreciate who he is and what he's doing for your family.
Today's Small Thing is to find ways to appreciate your Dude. Let him know that you're still crazy about him and that he's the kind of guy that makes a girl feel lucky. Even if ya ain't really feelin it....your actions will mean more than you know. That's what I'm choosing to do today.
Go ahead! Love your Dude in a way you know he'll enjoy today....you choose what to do!
Don't have a Dude in your life? No worries, luv. Simply pray for the Dude that pastors your church, leads a small group, or pray for the Dude in the Oval Office.
