Articles to Ponder Upon

Marriage


When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.



She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her! With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.


She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.


The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.



I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.



On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.



She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.



Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.



But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office...jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.



She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. 

She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice.

 She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I’m a loving husband....The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.




SOUL


Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adore him
with rich robes and treated him to the finest of
delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was
always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms..

However, she feared that one day he would leave her
for another.


She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant
and was always kind, considerate and patient with her.

Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide
in him, and he would help her get through the
difficult times.


The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and
had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth
and kingdom. However, she did not love the first
boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly
took notice of him..


One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was
short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered,
I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die,
I'll be all alone.'


Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the
most, endowed you with the finest clothing and
showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'


'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her
heart. The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved
you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'


'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold.


She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always
turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied
the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'


His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and
the girl was devastated. Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.'


The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend.
He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'


In truth, WE All have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Our 4th boyfriend is our body. No matter how much
time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.


Our 3rd boyfriend is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.


Our 2nd boyfriend is our family and friends. No
matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.


And our 1st boyfriend is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.
throughout Eternity.However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us where ever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and
cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with ............


Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes
you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Pass this on to someone you care about - I just did.


Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It
means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections .


I hope this touched you!