Grace in Marriage re: A Short-Lived Lipstick …

There are many profound things that I could share from our time at the CCEF Conference on marriage this past week. But what is blazing in my mind as we rejoin the real world (cuddling with babies, changing diapers, starting laundry) was a simple moment of real grace from Fred to me that happened during the conference …

I was out of lipstick. Totally out. My Clinique Surprise was down to metal and my dry lips were feeling it all the more in dry airplanes, hotels, and convention centers. So Fred said, “No problem. Let’s run to the mall during the first lunch break and get you some lipstick.” And so we did. (Nice guy that Fred.)

But then.

After the plenary and before the workshop I ran to use the ladies’ room and, well, my brand-new-barely-used-expensive-for-our-workin’-for-a-ministry-budget lipstick dropped OUT of my pocket just as the automatic toilet went SWOOSH and it was gone. Very gone. Totally gone.

And I had to go back to the general session and tell Fred what my stupidity accomplished yet again. (Waste of time. Waste of money. Just ridiculous in its wastefulness.) And here is what grace sounds like in the dailyness of real life marriage. Fred replied:

(NOT: “How can you be so stupid!” Not: “But that lipstick cost $12!!” Not: “Well, there’s no way I’m wasting all that time AGAIN.” Nope. Just a gracious, kind reply when my humanity blew it and dropped the ball. Or the lipstick in this case.)

Thanks, Fred. Way to reflect the blazing Sun rather than a 3-watt light bulb. I appreciate you! I love you. And I’m grateful to have another lipstick. (This time we bought two. Just in case.)

Hope your Monday is grace-filled and blessed!

Your friend,
Tara B.