In marriage's middle years we have to find joy in the everyday miracle of keeping our promises. We must keep at the repetitive, routine work of I do. As C.S. Lewis has written, every marriage must, as it matures, "submit to the loss of the thrill...[which] will be compensated...by a quieter and more lasting kind of interest."
~Jen Pollock Michel, "Keeping Place: Reflections on the Meaning of Home"
When I first read this quote, I disagreed violently with Lewis about submitting to the "loss of the thrill", but as I ponder his words, I think maybe he meant that the thrill changes and matures. The experiences that initially cause the thrill, still do. But now the thrill is deeper, sweeter.
We still bump up against challenges in our marriage, even though we no longer have crying babies in the middle of the night. Trust has grown over the years because of the hard work that has been invested in the relationship. God gives us grace to persevere. And we more easily discover the "joy in the everyday miracle of keeping our promises."
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