Guest contributor, Lisa Jacobson Club 31 Women
How can one jar of peanut-butter cause so much trouble?
No kidding, that’s what I wanted to know too. Because apparently it was A Big Problem and he made that quite clear. My husband was fed up with the sticky, slimy mess dripping down the sides of the peanut-butter jar and insisted we put a stop to the madness.
“Why can’t we keep this jar clean?! There’s no reason we should live like this and it’s got to change,” he stated with final authority.
Oh, but there was a very good reason as far as I was concerned and protested against the ultimatum. Actually, there were eight good reasons – all of them being under the age of 18 years. You see we have these things called children and one mother can’t be on top of everything!
Why so unreasonable? So demanding?
Now on his behalf, I have to tell you that my husband is not a complainer. He doesn’t make negative remarks about my cooking (no matter how “creative” it sometimes gets). He doesn’t complain about having to throw on his robe in the morning and search for the essential items in the laundry room (really meant to fold and put those away…). He’s even good about patiently sitting in the car and waiting for me to get out the door. And that can be a pretty long wait sometimes.
But the goopy peanut-butter container? That just about does him in.
So how many of you moms will side with me on this one? I mean, we have a bunch of children and they all make their own peanut-butter sandwiches. Even the six-year-old (who just lost his two front teeth – so darling!). Let’s face it – it’s a sticky, slimy world we live in.
Oh, thank you! I thought I could count on you (It’s a good thing he doesn’t blog or he’d surely have all the dads taking his side).
So I basically communicated to him….
Sorry. But that’s just the way it has to be.
That we were going to have to learn to live with it. That he was asking the impossible. And I left him in the kitchen feeling quite justified in my rather defensive response.
Except for one thing.
I left the kitchen to recover and regroup in our front sitting room. Our “parlor” as we call it and my very favorite room in the house. It’s beautiful. The Parlor has pretty pillows, a tea tray, and a clear glass (yes, that would be GLASS) coffee table. You’re not allowed to eat in this room. Or have your electronic gadgets. No Legos, dirty socks, or rollerblades are permitted in the Parlor. Happy sigh.
I love this room.
Now wait! Are you beginning to wonder how it is that I can keep an entire room looking pristine even though we have all these children? With a glass coffee table, no less??
Well. It’s because it’s important to me, of course. Really important.
But I can’t keep the peanut-butter jar wiped down?
Right.
Yeah, that’s what got me too. You see, I have this tendency to take my priorities very seriously. Maybe his less so?
But I don’t want to do that anymore.
In fact, I’m determined to have the cleanest peanut-butter jar in town.
So if you ever find yourself anywhere near our area, I hope you’ll stop by ’cause I’d love to make you a peanut-butter sandwich. Or have that darling six-year-old of ours make you one. It’s true that you might have to step over a heaping pile of rollerblades on the front porch and overlook the baskets of clean laundry waiting to be folded in the living room.
But you’ll be sure to admire the amazingly clean peanut-butter container, won’t you?
Because he sure does.
Honey, I love you and I want you to know that your priorities are important to me.
Really important.
Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.
~ Philippians 2:4
but every man also on the things of others.
~ Philippians 2:4
Today’s Vow: To consider your priorities as I would my own.
The Challenge: Place those things that are the most important to him at the top of your list.
In His grace,
Lisa is the happily-ever-after wife of Matt Jacobson, literary agent and writer, and together they enjoy raising 8 children. Please join her over at Club31Women, a blog for any wife, mother, or sister who is looking for Biblical encouragement and inspiration.
Visit: Club31Women.com
Find her on facebook: Club31Women
If you would like to have Time-Warp Wife delivered to your inbox daily, simply click here: Subscribe to Time-Warp Wife