Becky and I had a guest for dinner 2 weeks ago. Tom was Becky's counselor years ago and played a big role in bringing about some profound healing for her. They have stayed in touch since. He currently teaches counseling and communication, among others things, at a university nearby.
Tom's wife of 50 years passed away a little over a month ago. Tom is 67. Dinner was my first time meeting this great man. What a blessing to know him.
We asked him about the success of his 50yr marriage to a woman he fell in love with when he was 17, and he said this: "Sometimes one person feels like quitting, sometimes the other, you just pray that you don't both feel that way at the same time. We were blessed."
The humility of this statement, the honesty, especially considering the source, was and is disarming and inspiring to me. I'm sure there are any number of very wise things he could have said, "be committed, keep open communication, etc." but he just cut through all that and got right down to it. We are fallen. We will fail. God and those who represent Him in our lives protect us. We protect them. God help Becky and I to protect each other and our marriage.
I want to be Tom when I grow up.
I haven't spent any real time with you since we were in our late teens, but Tim YOU ARE WONDERFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, and I must add since reading some of the things you have posted you haven't changed much, which is a wonderful thing because you are just the way God has made you. You know that some days I wish I was you, but then I think... I cant wish that THE HUTS ARE GANGSTAS. The point is that God has given you this beautiful life and you need to wake up every morning and enjoy it, build up your joy. If you are worried about being a child, so what at least you can. Be thankful that you had such wonderful parents who didn't scar you when you were young because they were too self centered. A large portion of young adults are doomed to bad relationships because of their parents. BUT YOU'RE NOT! I guess what I am trying to say is whenever you start to worry about the imperfections in your life, snap out of being Anal Retentive and think about the blessings in your life that bring you Joy. Write them down if you forget them, and keep them at your nightstand to read every morning. I love you Tim, I always have. Oh yea one more thing "Star Trek" I knew you would see it my way I just never thought it would take you 12 years.
ReplyDeleteyou can't take her heighness there! THE HUTS ARE GANGSTAS!
ReplyDeleteYou didn't day that, I believe it was the previous owner of the millenium falcon and the current overseer of cloud city, Lando Calrisian that said that line. It is not wise to lower your defenses....Annie Skywalker.
ReplyDelete