A friend gave us a little painted sculpture of German Wood Sprites as a house warming gift.
I smiled and did the courteous “thank you” routine, quietly dismissing it as something more “cutesy” than I’m into, and set about {mentally} finding a home for it. The patch of grass out back…behind the man-cave, maybe?
I had no clue – in that initial moment of nonchalance – just how much deep marital reflection would occur by simply having Mr. Travelocity and his lady-love take up residence in my garden.
I have grown to adore these two little people.
Every single time my eyes fall on this small statue, it makes me think. It encourages me. It challenges me. It woos me. It makes me smile.
{go ahead. soak that in for a minute, and don’t you dare role your eyes}
I realize my mind functions on a more metaphorical level than many, but really…it gets me. Every single time!
And then I move them, a little closer to my house.
Here’s the deal: I think they depict the essence of what marriage was designed by God to be {and yet has fallen so far away from}…
Love. Closeness. Delight. Companionship. Intimacy. Warmth.
This carved, painted lump of clay has wrapped up in it the capacity to encourage authentic love, to spur me onto pursuing the nourishing & fueling of my husband’s heart more passionately. To make certain he knows {like he knows like he knows} that he is loved. admired. respected. enjoyed. valued…by the teammate he has by his side.
He is her hero. It is evident in his body language that Mr. Travelocity is fully aware of how his woman loves him. Completely and utterly. Thoroughly and intensely. Despite how ridiculous he looks in that red, pointy hat {ahem}.
The closeness they share is precious, and so beautifully depicted by the sculptor in their features and body language. It gives me warm fuzzies. Really, it does. It makes me want to make a point of cuddling up to my hubby on the couch while he’s catching up on Man vs. Wild no matter how badly I want to read something online, and it reminds me how much more important it is to purposefully hold his hand more, to make contact with him – all things I love to do, but things I have found get forgotten about amidst the clamor of life with small children.
What used to have to be restrained in public, now takes effort in private. What is with that?
This woman clearly delights in her man, and she’s not about to hide it. She enjoys being with him, and what normal human being’s spirit doesn’t soar knowing they’re valued and treasured this way. It rocks his world. Just look at him!
And then there’s that smile. Oooh, that smile. Have you noticed how much less we smile at each other these days? We all know the power of a smile – the ineffable beauty it offers another person, melting a solemn face into a soft, friendly one. While dating, and early on in marriage, I think it took effort to get the smile off of our faces {my cheeks would hurt sometimes from smiling so much!}. Today, sadly, it’s a different story. I forget to smile at my husband. To take the time to make eye-contact, and smile warmly at each other. I’m sad to admit it, but it’s true. Again, the chaos that is life with children has the ability – if you allow it – to suck the very life, enjoyment, and delight out of your friendship with your spouse. And when we lose that friendship…that companionship…we’re in for a rocky ride. We forget that 80% of communication is non-verbal. What simple joy we could ‘speak’ to our spouse if we would make a point of sharing Wood-Sprite-like smiles with them. I know this sounds a little cheesy {hey, maybe it sounds very cheesy…but try it. I dare you. I dare you!}. A genuine, lingering smile says…”I delight in you”. And who doesn’t need to hear that?
I love that kiss. And what it does to him. I don’t know, maybe she’s tugging gently on his earlobe with her teeth, whispering…”hey baby, wanna get laid?”. It’s very possible. And get this…that too is a vital dimension of the wild, passionate, intensely intimate relationship we get to share within marriage. It’s the only relationship God blesses in this way, and says…go for it! Do it. And do it a lot. Don’t hold back. And don’t stop. It is good!
This is one heck of a thing they’ve got going on…and I want it!
{brown chicken, brown cow}
But. That’s just me.
I’m apparently into German Wood Sprites, and am highly skilled at reading their minds. So there you have it.
I’m off to cuddle with my man.
