Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:18
I admit that I have a problem. I have a hard time seeing myself as a fountain of blessing when at times, I'm more like a slow leak. Sure, J reassures me that he loves me and that his life is richer, fuller, happier since our hearts have been smooshed together.
But, after watching Celebrity Wife Swap this week, I wondered what it would be like if J "swapped" me out for a week. What is amazing about the wives that are swapped is that there is usually one gem (maybe more) that they possess that enriches the other family.
Leaving home in the stretch limo to a place unknown, would J cry and pound his fists on the ground, begging me not to leave or would he smile and say, "Take your time. Enjoy. We'll still be here."? Would the moment the "new wife" walked into our home, would she be greeted and surprised by what she saw or would she say, "Oh Lord, help me! I've walked into a landmine!" Would the bonus kids look forward to not having to be meticulously neat while the "swapped" wife sprayed silly string throughout the house, let them eat ice cream for breakfast and dyed the dogs hair pink?
What about the house that welcomes me as their "swapped wife and mom"? Would they adore me or scream, "I can't wait until my mom gets home" or "What is THAT you're cooking? I'm not eating that!" Would I end up on my knees scrubbing roach juice off the floor or riding a bull in a rodeo?
What I'd hope to learn is that although I may not always measure up or meet everyone's expectations, I am who I am - a work in progress. I don't walk in others shoes easily. In fact, I can barely walk in my own without biting the dust.
But, I've grown up to discover that I'll never know the thrill of flying unless I face the fear of falling. In other words, I've got to be me.
I admit that I have a problem. I have a hard time seeing myself as a fountain of blessing when at times, I'm more like a slow leak. Sure, J reassures me that he loves me and that his life is richer, fuller, happier since our hearts have been smooshed together.
But, after watching Celebrity Wife Swap this week, I wondered what it would be like if J "swapped" me out for a week. What is amazing about the wives that are swapped is that there is usually one gem (maybe more) that they possess that enriches the other family.
Leaving home in the stretch limo to a place unknown, would J cry and pound his fists on the ground, begging me not to leave or would he smile and say, "Take your time. Enjoy. We'll still be here."? Would the moment the "new wife" walked into our home, would she be greeted and surprised by what she saw or would she say, "Oh Lord, help me! I've walked into a landmine!" Would the bonus kids look forward to not having to be meticulously neat while the "swapped" wife sprayed silly string throughout the house, let them eat ice cream for breakfast and dyed the dogs hair pink?
What about the house that welcomes me as their "swapped wife and mom"? Would they adore me or scream, "I can't wait until my mom gets home" or "What is THAT you're cooking? I'm not eating that!" Would I end up on my knees scrubbing roach juice off the floor or riding a bull in a rodeo?
What I'd hope to learn is that although I may not always measure up or meet everyone's expectations, I am who I am - a work in progress. I don't walk in others shoes easily. In fact, I can barely walk in my own without biting the dust.
But, I've grown up to discover that I'll never know the thrill of flying unless I face the fear of falling. In other words, I've got to be me.
When the limo arrives back at my house, I guarantee, J will be there waiting with a bouquet of roses in his hands.
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21 comments:
Oh, this question is very difficult!
I would never swap and The Source would never want to swap me. After 24 years and 7 months, we are fused together. And goodness knows, I'm too old to put up with another household's idiosyncrasies.
Happy New Year Simone!!!
Awwwww, J sounds like a great keeper just as you sweetie.
What a great post, I have to say I've never asked myself that question, heck...as long as we've been together swappin' out never entered this old brain.
God bless ya Hon and have yourself one fantastic weekend!!!
sounds like you have a keeper there...i could never swap...i am far too jealous...smiles...
A very very good post! I hung on to every word and felt compelled to comment today. I have seen the show a few times and can completely understand where you are coming from! Ultimately I suppose a lesson can be learned not by swapping just by observing those around us and picking up good habits and dropping not so good ones...
I saw that show. Quite frankly, I thought Gary Busey tried hard and was very sweet in his unique way. He is a handful! I liked Mrs. Haggard but her husband, not so much. That family has issues for sure.
I would not spend a week in someone else's shoes & with a camera crew on hand & dealing with someone else's kids. Been there done that with Mr O & his kids. Step parenting is nothing but thankless charity work.
I've seen those shows, but never put myself in their place. It's interesting to think about how the family would feel, and how mine would react too!
D'oh! I forgot Wife Swap started this week. I was wanting to watch. Call it morbid curiosity about Gary Busey. I wonder if it's online somewhere? Anyway, whenever I watch this show I wonder those same things. I'd be afraid of what the other woman would think or what my rebellious teenage daughter might say. I don't think I could do it.
I've tagged you for an interview of sorts on my blog:
http://livedwell.blogspot.com/2012/01/tag-im-it.html
This is a wonderful, thoughtful post. I have not watched the program and have grown mature enough to think any potential swap through -- The family I have is all I can handle. I certainly don't need another one.
I don't own TV, therefore I am not familiar with shows other than the 2 or 3 I watch on Internet at times. Your post is interesting as usual touching the doubts that lingers in every woman's heart.
I think they choose these moms because they are so radical and make good TV. I think the real world moms would try to fit in and make it a nice experience for their host family--I know I would. I would love to delve into someone else's life for a week to learn about how they live, but I certainly would not impose my life or beliefs on some family! I don't think I'm that radical anyway. So, I ask that everyone makes their own bed?????? zzzzzzz.....
I used to watch Wife Swap and wonder how my family would react to that same situation. They'd probably love the "easy-going, silly-string spraying" mom !!
Your J sounds incredibly sweet!
I know i haven't been around or a while but who is J? What posts do I read to learn about him?
The wife of our youth is a problem if you hav been divorced and remarried. Hopefully my husband is not delighting in his first wife! ha ha
I don't think he would swap me. He's too used to me! And he loves me!
That's cause he's infatuated with you! :)
If I left one of two things would happen...Mike would runaway under shield of night before they could bring me back; or he'd be a total basket case because he doesn't know what bills are due when. Let's hope they don't swap me. He wouldn't do well in the dark. lol
Oh how I have often wondered the same things when watching Wife Swap. I'm kinda loving Celeb Wife Swap...was amused but also a little impressed with Gary Busey. He seems far more capable of accepting people as they are than many of us in this world.
I laughed so hard at your sentence about being a fountain of blessing or a slow leak, my husband came in to see if I was okay. Why was I laughing with out him?
Had a great weekend, but today my pain is up. I don't even feel good enough to be a slow leak. More like a big drip. :0)
What you say about being yourself and walking in your own shoes makes me smile. That's the key, isn't it? Knowing you're good just the way you are, and that there's always a bouquet of flowers at the end of the journey.
It's okay to be a slow leak. Who's told you that you have to be perfect? No one is, as evidenced by the Wife Swap show.
I could do it (the show). It would be quite an adventure and I'm sure that some of my "ways" would be pointed out to me. But, it would be up to "only" me to change or not to change based on what I learn.
Moot issue though, as my husband would NEVER do something like that! lol
I thought about the swap too, and I thought how incredibly boring my daily life is. They would never pick me to do that show, not that I'd want to anyhow!
Been thinking about you and hoping you are well.
I don't think I could ever do the swap. I'd miss my family way too much, even though sometimes I wish I could get a big break!
This really stuck with me: "But, I've grown up to discover that I'll never know the thrill of flying unless I face the fear of falling. In other words, I've got to be me." I struggle with being me and I fear that people won't like what they find. I'm inspired by your attitude! Can't wait to read more.
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