This guest post by Annette Petrick, the creative genius and inspired storyteller behind the Consider This Radio Show (podcast and website), will help you extend the romance of Valentine’s Day all year long!
Use the audio player below to listen to this 90-second show.
They were leaving that day for a few weeks in Florida. The wife had made her lists, put her stuff together, had check marks on just about everything on the list and was ready to go.
The husband – well, he was still deciding which fishing poles to take. The car had not gotten washed as he planned, and not everyone was informed of what was expected of them while the couple was away.
She could find it maddening. Why hadn’t he spent his time doing his share? She could yell, bang around, scold him, and put him down. Instead, she went and read a book, ignoring the sounds of his hustling.
You see, she loves him. And she found out years ago that he is who he is. And not being ready on time is one of his traits. She could hate it and fight it, or she could find a way to cope.
So she stretches the truth a bit, telling him they have to leave at noon, when the actual ETD is 2 p.m. She knows that with a few extra hours, he’ll almost be ready. She’ll then gently remind him of those things he was most likely to forget, and they’ll be on their way – perhaps a little late, but happy.
Sounds like a 1950s sitcom strategy. But it works, because she loves him enough to accept him as he is and to be a managing partner, when necessary. What a wise woman. A master at turning lemons into lemonade.
This is the essence of love.
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Annette Petrick for Consider This
Annette’s Consider This Radio Show site features 90-second episodes serving up “timely perspectives on life, love, friends, family, giving back, and giving thanks.” Be sure to get on her email list HERE. She sends out a new 90-second episode every Sunday morning.
We Are Connected By God’s Amazing Grace
And those compromises, Pamela, are kindnesses too. Because you love the other person. It works so much better than being annoyed at everything.
A story I presented to a Florida Rotary Club earlier this month was about my answer to a young friend who wanted to know, “How can I tell if she is ‘the one’?” I was describing how a person makes you feel when you truly love them. This post is such an example of the kind of kindness that is the essence of that true love. has much more to do with heart than hormones. Young people who “get it” early on, are in for years of loving contentment.
Yes, yes, yes! This is so true. Fortunately, some of us blundered into it while the hormones were still raging, but we figured it out by the time they settled down a bit. My children still raise their eyebrows in disbelief when I tell them I met their father in March and married him in October. And they weren’t born for six more years! 🙂
Smart woman, smart story, and we smart spouses know the way to compromise to keep love blooming strong. 🙂
I agree, Pamela! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you, Mickey. It’s such fun to sit down and think about what to say about a subject in just 90 seconds. So glad that social media allowed the show to get out to more than our broadcast area. Connections – like this one provided by Elizabeth Cottrell – help us recognize and celebrate joy in life.
Delightful story. The woman reminds me of me, with all my list making before any trip. I have been enjoying Annette’s blog for a while now, thanks to you, Elizabeth.
‘He is who he is’ reminds me of my boy who often says ‘it is what it is.’ No changing those things that cannot be changed, better to accept and go with the flow.
I enjoyed this story, too. In my case, I’m the one who usually underestimates how long things will take to get ready to go on a trip. I actually play tricks on myself by adding a cushion of time to determine when we want to have “wheels rolling.”
Annette is absolutely delightful. Looking forward to listening to her Radio Show.
Doesn’t she have a wonderful delivery? The great thing is that she is speaking from the heart, and her life reflects her belief in these inspirational messages. She has agreed to share an episode every month this year, and I’m so grateful to her.