Hey all! This is something I'm doing on Facebook, but I wanted to extend it to those who read my blog as well. You can either post here, on the Facebook events page here, or on your personal Facebook page.
This Valentine's Day, I wanted to take an opportunity to consider the romantic legacy my parents left. But it's much more fun to include friends, so please join me!
This DOES NOT mean your parents had/have the perfect marriage, or even a good one. And when you're a kid, things like divorce and abuse rock your world. Totally legit. BUT...there are often good things to recall as well, even if under the surface. No matter what your home was like, ask God to show you the lovely things from your parents'/guardians' marriage. It's amazing what you'll see!
Starting Feb. 1st (today!), post on this page (or on your wall, etc.) one good memory about your parents' relationship. Do this every day for 14 days, ending with your favorite memory on Valentine's Day!
Let God use this time to show you how from the beginning, He has been romancing your heart and showing you how He wants YOU to have a wonderful romantic life, too!
Memory #1: Every Boxing Day (British/former British colony holiday on the 12/26), some family friends would have a huge Christmas party. They always had a steel band, and my sweet dad always convinced my mom to get up on stage and sing Spanish Eyes. She had a beautiful voice, and he was her biggest fan!
Memory #2: When I was little, I used to hang out with my mom on her bed and watch TV. She often used to look at my feet and say, "You have your Daddy's feet. He has great feet! That's why I married him!" Of course, she was kidding about the last part, but I always thought it was cute.
The Bible says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news." My dad loves to share Christ and bring hope to ppl, whether it's giving food to a struggling family or even paying someone's rent. He does, indeed, have beautiful feet.
Memory #3: One time as a teenager, I was talking to my dad about all the things my mom did for our family. I was marveling at how much organization, awareness, coordination, etc. it took for her to do all she did for us. My dad assured me he was well aware of her sacrifice. Even that one small gesture of awareness and gratitude meant so much to my heart, in just simply showing how much he appreciated her.
Memory #4: I love that my dad and mom had no problem kissing in front of us I always took this for granted until a friend at school once said I was lucky to have parents who did that. "I wish my parents acted like they love each other," she said. It made me sad to hear, but it also opened my eyes to the gift I had in parents who were affectionate.
Memory #5: I love that, over the years as my mom's hair went from black to a shiny and lovely gray, my dad would call her Silver Fox. :)
Memory #6: I love that, over the years as my mom's hair went from black to a shiny and lovely gray, my dad would call her Silver Fox.
Memory #7: I loved when my parents would tell us stories of their pre-children relationship. Back when my mom was not yet an amazing cook (I know, those of you who know her cannot believe there was such a time), she'd occasionally char whatever it was she was cooking for my dad. He'd tell us, "She must have thought I was a god, bringing me burnt offerings!" :)
Memory #8: I love how my dad always got my mom flowers, sometimes for special occasions and sometimes just because. When I was little, if I saw new flowers on the table and asked her where they came from, she would often say, "My boyfriend got them for me!" My parents=very cute.
Memory #9 (not to be confused with Love Potion #9): I was always so blessed by how my mom often, just in everyday conversation, called my dad "my love."
Memory #10: My mom and dad both love to sing, and they both have great voices. I always had to laugh when my dad would break into his fake opera voice. My mom would call him, My Husband the Boy Soprano. Then she would break out of narrator voice and address him with the inevitable, "Be careful not to hurt yourself!"
Memory #11: I love how my parents have such a heart for hospitality, even being mom and dad to kids who were not biologically their own at some points. Their hearts really went out to those in need. Even when we brought friends home to visit, my parents really took an interest in their lives.
Memory #12: It was always cool how my parents often had the same "favorite songs." Whenever the songs would come on in the car, my dad would turn the radio way up and they would both sing. And it wasn't like they liked common songs. Always unique, yet always something that impacted BOTH of them. They were so in tune with each other!
Memory #13: My dad used to tell us about stuff they did when they were dating. They used to play tennis together, and my dad would always say how good a player my mom was.
Memory #14: I remember each of my parents' Bibles, because it was not uncommon to see them reading them. My dad's big navy blue Bible, my mom's thick burgundy one with all the notes and page markers. They had a romance that was bigger than theirs. Doesn't mean they were perfect or that home life was never wounding. But it does mean that the enemy will never have the final say over my family.
I hope you enjoyed this journey with me! And more importantly, I hope that it has caused you to reflect on the legacy God wants YOU to have romantically, no matter what kind of home you came from. He works in the craziest situations to bring about love and beauty. Be blessed.
No comments:
Post a Comment