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Marriage Monday: A Cautionary Tale

I’m happy to be able to participate in Marriage Monday. Today’s topic is all about romance. What’s your experience with romance in marriage? This tends to start off strong from the husband early on, but fades, often leading to disappointment.

I can’t say I have great advice for anyone. But I can share my story and maybe you can relate and not feel so alone. Or, perhaps you are a newlywed and can draw something from this post that will help you implement strategies to keep romance in place.

Ah, romance.

I still tear up watching Almanzo fall in love with Laura Ingalls and show such vulnerability on her 16th birthday on “Little House on the Prairie.” I warped my VHS tape of “Sixteen Candles” when Samantha walks out of the church and finds Jake waiting…for her. “Never Been Kissed” when Drew Barrymore’s character waits on that baseball diamond and he shows?

Be. Still. My. Heart.

I love romance. I’m even writing a contemporary romance. You would think my married life is full of rose petals and stolen kisses.

And that’s where I’ve had to set up realistic expectations. Because many of my favorite romantic moments came from great imaginations, writing, and acting. Cinema. Books. But marriage contains what entertainment doesn’t.

Clogged toilets. Laundry. Groceries. Paying bills.

Once the wedding presents have nicks and smudges, it’s normal for the romance that came from dating and those early married years to cool down. I didn’t think about this. After all, my husband even created a computer program chronicling his love for me. He wrote a poem for our first anniversary with a dozen roses. In my mind, he made “16 Candles” Jake Ryan seem like a romantic wannabe.

Fast forward. Two kids. His job demanded a lot of time. Active in ministry.

I went from receiving a poem to getting e-cards.

And for a season, even that disappeared.

I felt rejected, and that quickly turned to resentment. During those years I grew in the Lord and a lot of the baggage I brought to the marriage disappeared. I didn’t need a lot of romance, but I was hungry for anything that would help me see I was viewed as something more than the family secretary, bill payer, laundry master, and diaper changer.

My advice is if this is you, be realistic and understand romance has seasons, it ebbs and flows, but if it feels forgotten, don’t be resentful. Be communicative. One day I blurted how frustrated I was and that if anything happened to me, the only grief would be because he would wonder where dinner was. That got his attention and he stepped it up. But I should have spoken up sooner, and without volcanic anger spewing everywhere.

I also felt like romance was a tit-for-tat competition. If I wasn’t receiving romantic gestures, I didn’t think it was necessary to give them. It’s not a game. It’s a marriage and wives, as hard as it is, we have to initiate a lot of things. I think romance is one of those areas I have to initiate. I have to realize my gesture might not be returned.

But romance is about the heart, and I need to keep track of my heart motives.

Because when I’m operating with the right heart, there’s nothing more romantic.

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Julie

Kingdom minded. Wife. Mom. Author. Reader. Fan of chocolate. Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.
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shortybear63
shortybear63
12 years ago

Such a truthful post, bless you.

myredpurplelife
myredpurplelife
12 years ago

Thanks for your honesty. We are in our first couple years of marriage, and since we’ve started to have children, going further in ministry, and my husbands career is advancing, it’s hard to keep realistic expectations. You are so right about speaking up sooner. It can been hard to vocalize in the moment, but it’s worth it in the long run. I know my husband is much happier when I just tell him what’s wrong, instead of making him guess!
 
Blessings,
Monica
http://www.myredandpurplelife.com

ConnieMcConnellHopkins
ConnieMcConnellHopkins
12 years ago

I too am a sucker for that episode of Little House!! I just watched it recently and the moment she unwraps the scarf he has given her for her birthday, I sigh…I think when we work on our oWN relationship with the Lord, so much of our other relationships either fall into place or God gives us mercy and grace to where things roll off of us more easily! Thanks for sharing!
Connie

Mac an Rothaich
Mac an Rothaich
12 years ago

You comment ‘it’s not a game’ really is applicable to so many young married couples I meet now.  They just can’t wrap their hearts around being the first to bend… and that shows not enough value is put into their marriages health.  Appreciate you post!

TamiBoesiger
TamiBoesiger
12 years ago

LOVE your honesty! I think we all come into marriage with expectations that are way too high. Appreciating their attempts show us love in any way helps us keep warm feelings alive.

eMom
eMom
12 years ago

I enjoyed your post, Julie!  Your observation that romance ebbs and flows is apt. As wives, we have the power to bring it back… and that’s great news.
 
As always, thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today.
 
Blessings, e-Mom @ Chrysalis ღ

JulieArduini
12 years ago
Reply to  eMom

 @eMom So true, love that. We have the power to bring it back. It was a great topic. Thanks!

JulieArduini
12 years ago
Reply to  TamiBoesiger

 @TamiBoesiger I know too many broken marriages because the expectations were so high, and when they weren’t met, they went looking for the next “high” instead of making it work right where they were. Thanks for reading!

JulieArduini
12 years ago

 @Mac an Rothaich You are so right. There are so many I meet who feel entitled, and that does not bode well for a covenant rich in sacrifice. Thanks for reading!

JulieArduini
12 years ago

 @ConnieMcConnellHopkins I still get choked up on that episode!!! Thanks, Connie!

JulieArduini
12 years ago

 @myredpurplelife Monica, your wisdom in speaking up in love will take you and your husband far. Many blessings to the both of you.

JulieArduini
12 years ago
Reply to  shortybear63

 @shortybear63 Right back at you! Many blessings to you and your marriage.