Marriage Moats- 1000 Moats

Published: Fri, 12/14/12

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

One thousand moats. How about that. If I had suggested to John in late March of 2010 that I was going to compose and send out 1000 consecutive marriage boosting messages to 600 people I would have laughed at my own bravado. But here we are in the waning light of 2012. One thousand moats.

Some were ordinary, with ne'er a forward or backwards glance. Others got sent to husbands, adult children and friends to share the laughter. I only know this because the server tells me a simple number of opens, and many days people pause to say thank you. Here is one.

Dear Lori,

Thank you for your daily inspirational messages. As Tony the Tiger used to say, "They're GREAT!" But somehow those eleven letters don't really express the feeling inside. If you ever wonder whether writing them is worth all the effort, time, energy, creativity... just remember - "You have no idea"

Love to you and John

It is just as well, that most of the time we have no idea. Your relationships, for example, shine out like candles or tree lights on the darkest night of the year. I know because God told me.

You are the light of the world. Matthew 5

"But I am not good enough," you argue. "I get angry. I am controlling."

I suppose if candles were inclined to self deprecation they could come up with material too.

But a person who is stumbling in the dark is not so picky as we might think. A small light will do. Your brightness may not outshine Times Square, but it is enough for a person who has lost their way.

So today I extend my gratitude to you. Thank you for the thousand small flickering kindnesses, and gestures of generosity that glow in your wake. Most days you are too busy to look behind and see them, but others do.

I do.

Photo by Andy Sullivan

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