Romance and Reality

Romance is certainly an important foundation for a relationship. However, I'm afraid some of its significance has been lost in our sex-saturated culture. So many reality shows on television play on our fascination with romance.


We see bachelors and bachelorettes handing out roses to find their special someone; we see then cavorting in limousines and hot tubs and then marrying based on viewers responses. But after the season finales, after the cameras stop rolling, after the rose petals have withered and died, I wonder if any of these reality-celebrity couples have what it takes to endure.


You've likely experienced this yourself if you've bee in a relationship for very long. At first it can be easy to fall in love. He calls every day, often several times a day, sends you gorgeous bouquets of flowers with sweet little notes tucked inside, buys you jewelry and delights in taking you out and "showing you off".

There's a rush, a high, that's every bit intoxicating and addictive.

And it seems this wonderful feeling could fuel the relationship until the end of time.

You've found the man God sent your way, and this special gentleman has found you. You share the same faith, similar values, and a heartfelt desire to make a family together. All seems right with the world, no doubt.


Until reality starts creeping in and reminding you both that relationship can't stay in this sweet new phase for long. 

Talking on the phone for 3 hours in the morning is fun and utterly romantic - until you have to go to work 4 hours later.

It's nice to dress up and eat out in the fanciest restaurants with him - until you get a cold and want to stay at home in your sweats.

Spontaneous dates adds spice to your relationship - until you've done so much there's never time for chores like dirty dishes and piles of laundry. Real life sets in ad the relationship has to adapt and mature if it's going to last.

In fact, I believe what we really crave is much more than just moonlight and roses. We crave the security of knowing our men will stick by us when we discover a lump in our breast, when we lose our job, or when someone we love die. We want to believe they can love us without make up, when we burn the chicken, or when PMS makes us cranky. We long to know they will still hold us and desire us when our figures sag, when we start to have babies.... This is when real romance kicks in!

Not just the kind you see on television, but the kind that comes from a man who's willing to change a dirty diaper without being asked, capable of cooking dinner for the family when you work late, or able to surprise you with a getaway weekend he planned himself.

I find an incredible fascination in my husband that i continue to mine as we grow older together! haha How many facets does this man have? How does he manage to surprise me after all these years? The more i know him, the more i realize i will never exhaust this discovery process.

It may sound cliched, but its truly like falling in love with the man all over again.

Sometimes i think i know everything about him.... and then I'm surprised all over again and see new dimensions in him that attract me even more.

This combination of solving an ongoing mystery and enjoying the familiarity of our relational home together is a powerful fuel for the longevity of our union :)

I praise the Lord every day for you hun :)