This past weekend marked an exciting milestone at our house… yard-work. It’s a task we anticipate every spring, and yet this year there was a special significance to starting up the mower. It wasn’t that long ago that we were trimming the grass at 1644 for the last time, uncertain of when/if we would have a yard to call our own again. The need to maintain our lawn is a welcome reminder of just how far we’ve come and that we have this blessing for which we are incredibly grateful.
Of course it is hard work at times and, especially come August when we’re amidst the blazing heat of the summer, we might even complain about the time and energy that having a yard and maintaining a home requires. Yet there is something truly satisfying about putting in the effort to take care of the things that we are responsible for. There is great reward to be had when we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.
They call it pride of ownership… it’s when a homeowner does their best to care for and maintain their property, and it shows. Not necessarily a quality that is measured by how much money has been invested in a home, but more accurately a reflection that it has been placed high on a priority list and has been carefully managed and nurtured in order to last longer.
I can’t help but think about how that same concept applies to marriage. We ought to take pride in caring for it. If we desire for it to stand the test of time, we must be willing to dedicate our time and energy to general up-keep. We must learn about it’s specific needs, fix things when they’re broken, and clean it up on a regular basis. Sure, there will be some seasons that require more effort than others. At times we may even grumble. But if we choose to see the need for maintenance as a welcome reminder of this blessing, the reward will be so much greater than simply our enjoyment.
-m
