Shoveling Slush

 

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33

 

I love to try new things. Today I shoveled slush. Slush is heavy! This is not the kind of “new thing” for which I would normally look but my husband can’t do it and it had to get done.

My heart was pumping fast. My biceps are still aching. My back was begging me to stop and my feet (even in good boots) were soaked by the time I was done.

I am not always one of those people who can thank God in the hard stuff. Usually when it is behind me I am able to see how He used it for good and then I am grateful. Today, as I was shoveling I was grateful.

I don’t usually have to do these things. I have a husband who always shovels if he can. If I want to help he’s happy to let me but I quit when I’m ready because he really is more capable than I. Until last March our son-in-law also pulled his fair share of the weight in the shoveling department. He’s happily living in the sunny South now. (I miss him even more at this time of year!)

As I was shoveling, I was thinking about how blessed I have been all these years to have a husband who will do this work. (And he only has a couple more weeks before I willingly hand the shovel back to him!). He can also play the parts of carpenter, electrician, computer fixer, economics professor, Word document coach, and landscaper. He’s pretty handy to have around!

I have also been grateful for my husband after I talk to a woman who lives, day in and day out, in a miserable marriage. I come home and tell him what a great guy he is. His usual response is, “Great, next to Jack the Ripper I’m a good husband.”  It’s true .. next to Jack the Ripper he IS a good husband.

As I was shoveling the slush I realized I was thankful in the moment, not for slush but that I have a dependable man who has faithfully done what he has said he would do. There are definitely things he didn’t/doesn’t do. Early in our marriage we agreed on who got which responsibilities.  He has not tried to shirk his (though he may have one or two of mine – I’m not sure.)

What I think is kind of “slushy” of me is that I am not always grateful for what  a blessed marriage I live in. I whine about little things and fail to fully appreciate the  thoughtfulness that results in things like me not having to shovel.

The slush that left me worn out – and able to justify not needing another work out today– has left me convicted about my level of gratitude for my husband.

Hope you’re doing a better job of being grateful for your husband than I am. If not, wear his boots for a couple of hours and see if you appreciate him more afterward.