A splash of color caught my eye as my fingers stretched and popped over my keyboard. Glancing down at my hand, I found the culprit.
Mashed between gold settings and the flash of diamonds was neon yellow play-doh dried in my wedding band. My mind immediately flashed to hours earlier when I rolled, cut, pressed and molded the squishy stuff with my daughter Grace. While trying to write at the kitchen table, she begged for me to get down cans of the age-old toy and join her. I figured I must have gotten it stuck in my ring while rolling snakes. “’Nother one,” Grace kept telling me as she slithered bright blue and yellow serpents across the table. “Sssssssss,” her tongue wagged between her tiny lips and teeth.
Focusing again on my wedding ring, I reached over to scratch away the dried up substance only to find it wouldn’t budge. As I walked to the bathroom to wash the play-doh away, I noticed how it covered the sparkle of my diamonds and realized it was a great representation of my marriage.
Sometimes, without me realizing, the kids get put first, and my husband is moved to the back burner. The glitz and sparkle of our passion is covered with Barbie, Legos, and Polly Pocket shoes. If I were to look closely, I’d notice the big clump of Play-doh on top of my hubby, but more often than not I’m too busy to pay attention.
Not long ago, I was in a group of women where one of them said, “I feel so guilty when I put my kids second. I feel like they should always come first, but sometimes I have to put my man first.” When the lady shared, heads all over the room began nodding. Unfortunately, this is the opinion of many. Women feel guilty when they put their kids on hold for their husbands. This shouldn’t be.
For as many who don’t understand the correct order of things are the ones who understand it, but fail to make it happen. I know my husband should come before my kids but am often guilty of getting the order reversed. I’m preaching to the ladies here but gentlemen, you aren’t off the hook. Guys are just as guilty of allowing their jobs to take top priority.
If you aren’t sure whether or not you’ve put your kids before your spouse, just ask. Make time to talk to the love of your life and check to see if you make them feel important.
As you prepare for Valentine’s Day tomorrow, reflect on your relationship and make sure you have your priorities in the right order: 1. God 2. Spouse 3. Kids. It’s really as easy as 1,2, 3.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor. 13:7 ESV
What things do you do to help keep your marriage relationship before the kids?
