Re-invent the Wheel (Part II)

Do men really appreciate gifts?  As you read, it was my birthday on the 13^th of April  and I sat by the roadside, patiently, waiting for Prince Barnie to come in his white horse to sweep me off my feet, swing me around and say to me “Happy birthday darling”.  As the hours went by and the clock ticked, the sun scotched more and more, messing my makeup. (NB I left the house in a rush and forgot to apply my sun tan cream).    It was now 12noon.  I could not bear the heat anymore; neither did I want him to see me in this state.  That’s when I made the decision to walk back home. Just as I began to walk, I received a text message on my phone.  Hey! It was from my beloved.  I quickly read it and wow!  What a message what a thought, what a romance (as Jeff Koinange would say) from Prince B.  This message cooled me off and brought back life to my body which by now had started itching from the sunrays that had penetrated into my skin.  This long romantic message was like jumping into the deep end on a very, very hot day.  How refreshing! What blessed me more was that, he had regained his poetic prowess.  Prince B surely did sweep me off my feet with his words   My heart was at rest and went back to work all smiles.  This was the best birthday gift I had received.

I ask again and specifically the ladies, does your husband appreciate gifts?  Maybe yes, may not.  It always amazes me the way Barnie behaves when he receives a gift.  He will wait until the end of the day (just before bedtime) to unwrap it.  As am typing, I think back of the things I did for Barnie in our early years of marriage.  He loved it when I went out of my way to offer him an “act of service”, went to pay the electricity bill or the other bills, cleaned the car etc; going out of my way.  Over the years, this has not been so.  Of course there are more responsibilities like the kids, school, ministry etc that take up all my time.  Does that mean that I do not strive to minister to my hubby? If I know that doing it will bring a smile to his face and warmth to his heart, why not schedule it and try, instead of blocking it.  This does not have to be every month, but I can’t imagine what joy it will bring to Barnie, oh sorry, Prince B.

What is it that blesses your spouse, makes him smile and feel loved?  Yes I know you might have to think really hard.  It’s been a looong time.  Are these words familiar “I wish you would do this or I wish someone else can help me do this today?”  My argument has been that, the timings are wrong and the notice too short.  Yet I can sacrifice my time and services to someone else, especially in ministry.  How selfish, because I would love him to sacrifice his time for me.  It is in the sacrifice.  I repeat, in the sacrifice. That is what will make his heart leap.  It’s in the small things that he desires.  Things he is saying and not really saying.  For some of the husbands, their eyes would pop out and hairs stand straight, in the event that we did what we did when we first got married.  How we loved to serve.  If you took time and asked God to help you, if you only moved closer to your Prince, you will hear him whisper his desires.  Could it be that our giving up as ladies has caused the men to give up on us.  Ladies, amuka, rise up.  Let’s do it not just say it.  That’s your gift to him.  We shall make it and bring back fire to our marriages.

“Do not grow weary in doing good for in due season you will reap if you faint not”.

                                                                                                                          -  Gal 6:9

re-invent the wheel

This past wednesday was my wife's birthday and as usual I decided to give her a surprise. I left home early that morning without wishing her happybirthday. She later confessed to me that she was furious that I had again forgotten her birthday. But I had something up my sleeve. I decided to send her a sms to wish her happybirthday. I mustered all my creative juices and thought through how to word my love for my beloved. I must confess that yes, I did it.Giess what, my wife was blown away, she told me that that was one of the best birthday gifts she has ever received. She was glad that my poetic giftings had been revived.

My wife keeps reminding me of how I used to be very poetic when I was pursuing her. Oh how she remembers those love notes that used to just flow. But of late I had buried and forgotten my gift. I had taken my wife for granted and had fallen into the sin of familiarity. I know I'm talking for all men. When we were firt in love, we did crazy things for our sweethearts. Some like Adam and I become poetic "Now you are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh" Adam said when he first saw Eve. But in the following chapter of the first book pf the Bible, after the fall of man, Adam blamed Eve and by extension God for what happened "It is the woman you gave me" Adam said. Isn't that just the way we deal with situations. Over time we have become so familiar with our Eve that instead of praising God for her, we are busy complaining about her. We have conquered so we think and have lost the excitement that we once had. Its time for us to re-invent our romantic wheel. The Bible exhorts us in the book of Revelation 2:5 "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first". I am now committed to doing the things I did at first in my marriage, yes including stirring up my poetic gift and using to write some romantic poems to my beloved, won't you join me and let the celebration of love begin or continue in your marriage.

N.B  My wife and I would like to invite you to a couples DUET, an overnight stay at Jumuia resort in Limuru for a time of rekindling the fire in our marriages on the weekend of July1st and 2nd. The charges are Kshs. 7,500 per couple. We have only 28 spaces remaining, so book your place now with a registeration fee of Kshs.2,ooo. For more details comment onthis blog.