Monday, November 17, 2008

It Keeps Getting Sweeter

We have been going to marriage counseling for about a year, and I LOVE it. Like, I scheduled a session on my birthday kind of love it. You are probably wondering why we started going, and what I said to myself (and anybody else who asked) was, "We have a good marriage, but I want to have a GREAT marriage. I just don't want to start out our marriage developing bad habits towards each other." That was most of the story, but the other part was that we fought and when we did it was vehemently. Jeremiah could (and still can) bring out an anger in me that is violent. Like, literally I have hit and scratched my husband in states of rage. Does anybody else have a picture in their mind of a cat, flying through the air, with its hair on end :)?

So, I was worried that marriage was turning me into a psychopath, and I wanted to find out why it was that this man I loved more than anybody else, could also send me into these flying rages. Hence you find us in front of Gordon. This man is so godly and so wise and just has the discernment of the Holy Spirit coming out of him all over the place. I don't think I've ever been to see him that he hasn't pulled out his Bible, because everything he teaches stems from the Word. He has taught me way more than one (or ten) posts could hold, but there are two main things that I would like to share. First being, that we are headed for beauty and not destruction in our marriage. I think that a lot of that anger I had was my old type-A personality trying to take control of our marriage--wrap my fingers around it and mold it into what I thought it was supposed to be. If I saw Jeremiah doing something, big or small, that I thought would develop over time into something horrible, I felt the need to hunker down and nip it in the bud. "Oh NO!, You think you can tell me you're going to exercise for 45 minutes and then come back 2 hours later? If I accept this now, just think, in a couple years you'll be working out for four hours--leaving me here by myself to cook dinner and manage both girls--and think of all the other areas you'll start taking advantage of me in if I let this one slip by!" You can see where that mind-set would be exhausting for both of us, and Jeremiah was beginning to think he'd married someone who was perpetually going to blow everything out of proportion. What Gordon has finally helped me understand is that, as Christians, we are becoming MORE like Christ as our walk continues--not LESS. Why then would Jeremiah, who I believe is seeking to be more like Christ, be treating me worse in the future than he does today?

The second lesson (and I don't think I am ever going to get around to what I actually planned to blog about this morning) is the "Tootsie Pop." I like illustrations. They stay in my mind a lot better than words, and when you're in the midst of a fight, you need something that can pop up there easily, because things are sure muddled. Gordon says that, when we first get married, we we are like two Tootsie Pops with a hard outer shell and soft chocolate middle. He says that it takes years of banging those two suckers together (which we were doing quite effectively :)) in order to get to that soft inside where we could mesh together. When he told me that it was normal, this fighting, and assured me through his great experience that it was leading to something magnificent (I feel I should point out here that my physical violence is not OK, and we all were aware of that need for change in me) it was like a weight was lifted off my back.

I felt the need to explain those things so that the rest of this blog would make sense...Couples who have been married a long time usually say things like, "It just keeps getting sweeter." or "We just know each other so well, that it's like we're the same person." These things sound good enough, but for some reason they horrified me. When I listened to them talk, it sounded like the passion had subsided into a friendship, and while I didn't like violence in our own relationship, I do enjoy the passion. It felt to me like our whole relationship was bright red, but I wasn't sure I would exchange the red for blue. Do you know what I mean?

For the last few months, I've been coming to Jeremiah saying, "Things just feel good. I can't really explain it, but I feel so much closer to you." I am not sure if he really feels this too, or if he is just so thankful that I'm not coming to him with the nebulous, "Something just doesn't feel right between us," but no matter the reason, he heartily agrees. Yesterday, when I was sitting in church I suddenly remembered Gordon's Tootsie Pop illustration and I almost shouted for joy in the middle of the sermon...I am nervous to say it, but I think we may finally have knocked off enough of that hard shell that we are beginning to really mesh our chocolate together. It's not that we don't fight anymore, but when we do, I am able to look at him and think, "He may not be showing me that he loves me right this second, but I believe that he does love me. I believe that partially because he is still standing there, willing to work on our marriage even after years of my craziness and partially because I know that Jesus is in there transforming him (and me)." I no longer feel the need to stay mad for the day so that he is adequately "punished" for whatever injustice I feel I've been dealt. The best way to express it, is just like Gordon said, I feel like we're finally together, on the same team, working together towards a beauty that we both desire.

I feel like our relationship has turned from bright red to deep purple. Purple is (I think, I am no art major) an extremely deep and passionate red, with a little blue serenity mixed in. It used to feel like we both had something to prove in every area of our marriage, and it was turning us red. Now, it feels like we've accepted where we both stand, and we've been able to mix in some greatly needed blue. I feel like (in my GREAT five years of experience) I can understand what those women were trying to express when they would tell me that things keep getting sweeter. You don't have to lose passion, it just means you don't have to prove yourself any longer. And y'all, it excites me to think that if it feels this great after only five years, what is it going to feel like when we finish meshing this Tootsie Pop together?

And now, to make a long post even longer, can I make the final point that I've been wanting to reach? If we know marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ, then I'd like to take that Tootsie Pop analogy one step farther. The first part of my life, I felt a lot like a bright red Tootsie Pop. It's not that I didn't have my tangy little issues, but I must say things on the whole felt pretty bright and shiny. I feel like God loved me enough to say, "There's more of you I need to get to. There's a chocolate layer under this bright, red, shiny stuff that you're going to have to let me touch if we're ever going to have the relationship I created you to share with me." Then, mainly through losing Mom, he allowed me to get banged up pretty bad, and I am here to admit to you that if I could have gotten a hold of Him, I probably would have beat on his chest just like I have on Jeremiah's...maybe harder. But today, at this moment in my life, I find myself going to Him, just like I've been going to Jeremiah and saying, "Things just feel good. I can't really explain it, but somehow I feel so much closer to you."

It's like I've got a huge magnet in my heart, and every time someone mentions His name, it feels like another magnet calls mine to attention, pointing north with all its might, and saying, "Are you talking about my friend Jesus?" Because, while I never would have asked to go through the pain of having all the bright and shinies knocked off my sucker, it has led me to a place where my heart has begun to mesh with His. Our relationship has turned a deep shade of purple. I understand Him in a way I couldn't have before, and part of that love is due to the fact that even after all our fights, He's still standing right here beside me. More real and present than ever, working through this relationship with me, and proving to me that He thinks it's worth it. It wasn't through the good times that I was able to find this sweetness in either relationship. It was through the hard times...Thank you both for still standing and believing it was worth the fights in order to get to the real heart of me.

16 comments:

JJ said...

Abby, I am encouraged by your transparency and honesty! You are so precious. Thanks for sharing.

Heather said...

i think i could have (or still maybe am in the red ...) written this post. the part that hits me the most is the punishment that i feel he needs in order to feel the same 'hurt' that i have felt with the injustice.

good for you for going to counseling just because you want a 'great' marriage. that is amazing. i think that is just such a testimony to your heart.

thank you for being so honest. you struck a chord with me today ... and i'm going to continue thinking about the Tootsie Pop -- and about the fact that Jesus is making my precious life partner a BETTER person -- not a worse one.

thank you for your words Abby. I hope you have a great day!

Kellie said...

Thanks for sharing, now I want to know about the dreamy princess table scape and picture of Pace!

DaNella Auten said...

Hi, I'm DaNella, my husband and I are the pastors of Shelby Christian Fellowship in Columbiana Al. I happened by your blog from the feedjit, Columbiana blogisphere... I enjoyed it, and I just wanted to encourage you that marriage can get sweeter and more passionate. I don't drink, but I have heard that there are some wines that not only taste better after being aged, but have a more zesty robust flavor. I would have to say the my marriage is like a fine wine aged to perfection. It is much more Zesty after 15 years. I honestly can say he is my best friend, we love spending time togeather. So much so that one of our 5 kids said one day, "Daddy, does Mommy have to go with you everywhere? Can't she stay home and keep us so we don't all have to go?" lol
DaNella

No Longer Newlyweds. said...

thanks for sharing. you probably helped more people than you realize. i've only been married for3 months, so i needed to hear all of that. i love the tootsie pop analogy.

KatieT said...

Abby,
Thank you so much! I have been wanting to go to counseling for the same reasons. It has such a negative sound to it and I think that people think you have to be on the verge of divorce to go through it. This is just what I needed today. God Bless and hope to see you over the Holidays!

Kendall Clark said...

Abby! Well obviously I can't relate to the whole marriage part of your blog BUT I can completely relate to the relationship with Christ part! Being in college has forced me to stand on my own two feet without dad, mom, watson or anyone else to uphold my faith for me. I am growing and learning a lot about what it really means and feels like to have a relationship with Him. I can feel tiny parts of my outer shell being broken off everyday, and this blog has really painted a very vivid and real picture of my relationship with Christ right now. Thank you for relaying that message! I love you!!!!!!!

Laura Sue said...

hey, i dont know you but i stumbled across your blog today and i REALLY needed this post.. so thank you. =)

Gail said...

"And the truth shall set you free" WOW...and you speak volumes of truth, my dear. You are a natural teacher...All love and heart! We should all follow your wisdom! Not growing, and not seeking advise is the worse! You are on the right path. God Bless!!!!!

Gail said...

"And the truth shall set you free" WOW...and you speak volumes of truth, my dear. You are a natural teacher...All love and heart! We should all follow your wisdom! Not growing, and not seeking advise is the worse! You are on the right path. God Bless!!!!!

Gail said...

"And the truth shall set you free" WOW...and you speak volumes of truth, my dear. You are a natural teacher...All love and heart! We should all follow your wisdom! Not growing, and not seeking advise is the worse! You are on the right path. God Bless!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Marriage is something I think about everyday, and sometimes it really scares me! I love it when you share deep things like this with everyone, because it really gives me an insight into what things are going to come my way in the next few years! This post hit me hard on the heart today, but im not going to bore you with details :)

Jason and Laura Brantley said...

we are on gordon's waiting list!! and for a lot of the same reasons as yall. the Lord is really using him in so many marriages, I think my whole church goes to him...he is amazing! thanks for sharing!!

Carrie said...

Abby, I am a totally random blogstalker but definitely have a lot of connections, i feel better about it when I say it that way! I just want you to know that i am thankful for your blog! Everytime I read it a smile or tears come to my face and I want you to know i appreciate it. You do not know how you touch people. I come from a family of 4 girls too so often i feel like i understand your blogs so well! This blog really meant a lot to me and I wanted you to know it!

andi said...

Abby, What a neat post. I am listening to Enya-Stars and Midnight as I came upon this post. It fits perfectly with your sweet words. You can listen to the song on my blog yourself. The words are powerful. This has prompted some thinking for me. Thanks for sharing this touching post with us. It is personal-thanks for being real, as always.

Sarah Baggs said...

Abby - I stumbled across your blog and have so a couple of times. I am friends with Jenny Sollie and my husband grew up with her husband. I haven't commented before but felt that I needed to today to tell you that i know EXACTLY how you feel and was relieved to hear that someone else is going through the same thing as I am. I also want to thank you because you have def given me some thing to think about - especially the whole "punishing him" and trying to change behaviors before they got worse and I love that we forget that we married these men knowing that they would get better and NOT become terrible people. So - thank you for reminding me of that and for making me feel normal for today :)