Cherish

Cherish

A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.

OUCH. I tried not to let my wince show as Frank stepped on my toes, again. He is a terrible dancer, probably the worst I’ve ever danced with. I groused mentally as we stumbled around the ballroom in fits and starts instead of gliding gracefully like everyone else.

My law school classmate and I were at a swing dance class put on by a community dance organization, and part of the lesson required us to rotate partners, learning to dance with a variety of people. My friend loved dancing, and she had talked me into tagging along because she didn’t want to go alone.

“Sorry. I’m no good at this,” Frank whisper-confessed, bringing my wandering thoughts back to the present as we executed a clumsy turn. “My wife really wanted to try dancing. I can’t dance, and I have no rhythm, but I’m trying. Sorry I’m mangling your feet.”

And with that revelation, my irritation melted away. I laughed off the pain, telling him that he was a sweetheart for making a valiant effort and steered the conversation toward questions about how he met his wife.

I’ve thought often of Frank over the years, especially when someone I love is asking me to do something I don’t love, I’m not good at, and I simply don’t want to do. Frank’s efforts were an act of cherishing his wife. His willingness to support something she loved revealed his love for her in a way that was glaringly obvious to a random law student getting her toes smashed by his efforts.

How am I cherishing the people I love: my parents, siblings, husband, children, girlfriends? That’s oftentimes a painful question, one I find myself falling short in when life goes on autopilot. Cherishing requires intentionality, time, and effort—all things in short supply when I’m stressed, when my attempt at work-life balance has swung too far off the centerline, when I see people primarily for what they can do for me rather than who they are to me and, more importantly, who they are to God.

Lord, as I pause for a long moment, bring three people to mind that need to be cherished. Show me exactly what cherishing looks like in each situation. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Make intentional, specific plans to cherish the three people God brought to mind.