Day 19: Bring Back the Fun and Flirt a Little!

Week 3:  Engaging True Connection

Day 19:  Bring Back the Fun and Flirt a Little

One weekend we were at the cabin on the mountain, and we discovered the roof was leaking into the side of the cabin.  With a good foot of snow on the roof, and another 2 feet on the ground, it was not exactly ideal conditions to do roof repairs.  Additionally, the ladders were buried under four feet of snow.

A difficult situation indeed. I was tempted to give my husband a lecture about being more prepared before winter hit.  But I decided that really wouldn’t solve the problem at this point.  If we did not do something about the roof, it would cause damage the rest of the winter.  I resolved in my heart to see this as adventure and not trial.  I gave my husband a big grin and said, “Well… start digging!”

He was less than thrilled and tried to explain to me how hard the snow was packed around the ladders.  “Nonsense!”  I said and I started digging with my gloves.  Reluctantly, he grabbed a shovel and joined me.  Pretty soon, we at least dug deep enough to find the ladders.  I tried wiggling them loose as he used the shovel to dig more.  He laughed at my attempts to pull one out under the weight of the snow.  I tossed a snowball in his direction, and it hit him in the shoulder.  “Really?”  he said.  And the next thing I knew, he tackled me gently into the snow bank.  We laughed and threw snow at each other until we both were giggling hysterically and covered in snow.  It was a moment of connection.  A moment of knowing that although we were facing trials, we can still have fun and be optimistic about the adventure.

After brushing ourselves off, we eventually dug the ladders out and he came up with an ingenious way to divert the leak, at least until Spring.

When did we start taking life so seriously that we forgot to have any fun?  Forgot to flirt a little?  When did trials and difficulties become more important than connecting with each other?

I remember when we were dating and it seemed like we were always laughing and having fun. Maybe that was just silly kids’ stuff then – or maybe not.  Maybe we just weren’t so serious about everything else in life.  Flirting is still fun!  And no matter how old you are, you can still do it.  It is a skill that we can practice.  If you need permission – I give it to you now!

This bible verse helps me keep perspective:

James 1:2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Pure joy with trials of many kinds?  Yes, sometimes I struggle to see it that way.  But when I view life as an adventure and connection as more important than tasks, I find much more joy and fun along the way.

And usually… not always…. but usually…. Solutions come so much quicker when I have this perspective.

Challenge for Today:  Do one thing to create fun or flirting with your loved one today.

Author:  Janet Hoyt