The Riddle of Love

I read a funny quote the other day. It went like this: "You don't actually love a person unless you occasionally want to kill them."

Which made me start to wonder...

Why do we put such high expectations on those we love most? Why do we take out our problems on the ones we would never want to lose?

The answer could simply be that you start spending so much time with that person, that it's nearly impossible not to come across a situation you don't see eye-to-eye on. Or maybe we have such high expectations for that person because we would be willing to do that much for them.

I also read a quote that said "Love is spending the rest of your life with someone you want to kill, but not doing it because you'd miss them."

Maybe we have this image  of love in our minds due to the romantic movies, or the advertisements shown daily. In a Bible study I went to recently, the speaker talked about how in most movies, the ending is of the glamorous wedding. The movie skips right over the part where the wife gains 40 pounds and the husband loses his job.

 I guess I'm slowly learning that the part the movies skip over, is what defines love the most. Love means you're a team. Love means that no matter the circumstance, you are in it together. Love means that you don't have to worry about the other person giving up when things get hard.

I can think of a time, where I was yelling at my mom and she simply said "Wait, why are you taking your bad day out on me?"

 I didn't get it then, but it's so obvious now. It's like I was trying to make the world feel sorry for me, and the only way I found that possible, was to bring the people around me right down with me. Even though I was yelling, and even though I was not being easy to love, she looked passed my anger; she looked beyond my bad day....showing me love.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you love someone you can't expect everyday to be perfect. If you do, you're never going to be satisfied. You have to realize that there are going to be days that you want to "kill" that person. Yet, if it's true love, the good days will, by far, outweigh the bad. Plus, it's getting through those bad days together that creates the best love stories.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

I'll be honest...I've never been a huge fan of snow. Sure, it's pretty and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it...but I'd be perfectly happy getting an inch on Christmas Eve and then having it all disappear January 1st.

So, a couple days ago when the weather man came on TV saying to expect 3-8 inches of that white stuff, I wasn't very happy.

That is until Monday morning...

Sure, I spent Sunday looking out my window thinking...why.....why this early....now how am I going to get to class....now I have to scrape my car....now I have to shovel....now I have to leave earlier to get anywhere on time....

Without really realizing...I was focusing on all of the negative things.

Sunday night after being pumped about the Packers victory, I looked out the window watching the snow STILL falling...and felt my mood change. I really wasn't ready for winter.

Which brings me to Monday morning.

I woke up to this annoying sound... something was scraping against my wall. When I looked out my window I was reminded of that nasty cold stuff piled up everywhere, but the next image might have changed my outlook on that white stuff forever.

After looking beyond the snow, I noticed that the noise I was hearing, was of a nice old man shoveling a path from my steps to the sidewalk. Of course, this view warming my heart. I went on getting ready when I heard a noise coming from my steps....I ran to that side of the house and noticed the old man was now shoveling off my 15 billion steps.

The most beautiful thing about this, is that this man didn't have to do this. He didn't have to think of the girl that lives in the tan house. When I signed my lease I specifically remember it saying I was responsible for the sidewalk and steps outside of my house.

As if that wasn't enough....When I got home today, my steps were salted down and a little bucket sat there labeled "Salt for Ice".

Maybe snow isn't so bad...As I walked down my cleared steps, making my way through the thoughtful shoveled path, I also saw a man helping a women who had just slipped; I saw a girl taking a picture of the snow-covered trees. I also saw a family building a snowman.

Today at the Preschool, a little girl came up to me as I was helping another child make a snow angel. This little girl looked at me innocently and said, "Isn't there something magical about snow?"

I thought to myself... Yes, yes there is.

The Christmas List

The joyful music, the lights & the contagious spirit...these are just a few of the things that make this time of year so magical.
 
I recently was looking back at some home videos where my mom sat my brother and I down in front of the tree to ask us what we wanted Santa to bring us. Granted I was five and my brother was seven, I wished for things like a puppy, an American Girl doll, and a pretend cash register. My brother asked for a football, a real Packer jersey, and a BB gun. I'd be lying if I said Christmas still brings that much excitement to me, but I'd also be lying if I said Christmas means any less today.
 
I believe that as we grow up, things change. Our thoughts, our beleifs, and our views all alter depending on our experiences.  This year when my mom asked me to make a Christmas list, I found myself struggling. Yes, there are a few things that would be nice to have, but do I really need them? Are the things I "need" really something my parents can just go out and buy in the stores, or Santa's elves can make in their workshop?
 
Yes, when I was five years-old, while wishing for material things, there were people struggling, people that were poor, and hospitals full of ill people...but as children we are so egocentric.
 
The bittersweet thing about growing up... we realize that this Jolly guy dressed in red can't logically fly around the world in one night, while checking off our Christmas list.
 
Therefore, our lists change, our views alter. As I grow up, I'm realizing that it's not the items I have that brings me my happiness.
 
This year my imaginary Christmas list would consist of:
 
1. Groceries for a year
2. My loans paid off
3. Good health
4. Family time/traditions
5. Happiness for all
6. Okay....a puppy.....
 
I want to make sure this year, that I don't get caught up on the materialistic part of Christmas. Sometimes I find myself sad after Christmas is over. Like something is lost or missing.
 
So, why can't we all carry this contagious, joyful, magical spirit through out the year? The friendly smiles, the small acts of kindness...if you haven't noticed, money can't buy you everything.
 
And if money could by us everything, would the value be the same?