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Thursday, May 31, 2007
This year we brought with us a brand new tent, still in the box. I spied the beast lying on the ground, knowing what must ensue. Looking around I was relived to see the campground was empty with the exception of a retired couple sitting quietly in their lawn chairs in front of their trailer about 100 feet away. I approached the box, cut the tape and out slid the biggest pile of nylon and connect-the-sticks I have ever seen. The contraption sleeps ten. Why a family of three needs a tent this size, I still cannot explain. Dragging the tent around on the site, I called to my husband for help. Thus the event commenced; the raising of the tent. This is a hotly contested battle of wit and patience between a husband and a wife. If television wanted a truly unrefined reality show, Raise the Tent, would win hands down. Two minutes into the set up, orders were shouted, my husband was obviously blind to the logic of my instructions. This became readily apparent from the look on his face. A retort from my frustrated spouse was foreseeable. The sound level increased. I glanced over at older couple who sat smiling at their reading materials, afraid to look up for fear they would break into hysterics. Precisely at this moment in all tent-raising events, children mysteriously disappear. My daughter retreated to the creek, suddenly captivated with the rocks at the bottom. I lowered my voice but the yelling continued in what I call, snake whisper. It is still yelling just at a hissing level. I am sure some of you can relate. The older couple is no longer watching covertly, they sit mesmerized by our Finally the Holy Spirit became fed up and tapped upon my heart. He reminded me I no longer needed to be in control. In the midst of our squabbling I saw my husband, a gift from God. I saw a man who has made me a better woman. The bickering diminished instantly and the tent went up quickly. My husband and I are spiritually mismatched in our marriage and although my husband has yet to discover the truth of Christ for himself, Christ is alive and active in our marriage. Christ’s supernatural power brings us through the arguing, disagreements, and tent construction. I look back upon my marriage journey and see Christ standing with us. He has been working through my nonbelieving husband to smooth my rough edges of selfishness and desire to control. My spouse and I are the ultimate odd couple. Our back grounds and beliefs are vastly different, which makes our marriage, our happy and fulfilling marriage, a miracle.  An hour later, I sat at the picnic table waiting for our friends who were joining us to settle into their campsite. Their daughter wandered over for a chat. I asked her, “Did your mom and dad getting everything set up?” She replied, “Yes, but yelling was involved.” I laughed out loud knowing God was alive and well in the next campsite! 1 Peter 3:1-4 (The Message) Please stop in for a visit at my place: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.  Labels: Humor, Lynn's Articles, Marriage
Comments:
What a wonderful story (now I know why I don't like camping *smile)
How precious that you allow our Lord to work through your husband to make you the woman He desires to be. Thank you for sharing from your heart. Be blessed today and always.
I have never been a camper and your story illustrates why! I don't think my husband or I could have raised the tent... we can barely get directions right when he asks me to read the map as we zoom down the highway!
Oh my gosh, I am HOWLING about the snake whisper. That is something I do ALL THE TIME and I'm pleased to know it has a name.
Great story! Blessings~
WHAT a WONDERFUL story!
IT is a testament to all of us..... My hubby is a christian (he's a preacher) but we still have days like this. AND I am encouraged that you heard God and let go of control.....that is hard for me. THANKS for the reminder. I hope the rest of your camping trip was fabulous! OH - and the older couple watching -- that is just precious. They were probably reminising of days gone by when they would have done the same thing. =)
LOL over the 'snake whisper'...I've gotten that one plenty of times from hubby...I'm not so discreet...:))
This is my favorite post of yours yet...What a great story!! :) Lisa
This was one of the most encouraging marriage posts I have read in a long time. Thank you for sharing your "Raise the Tent" moment. And the lesson from the Holy Spirit. You have greatly blessed me.
Lynn,
This was great! I have lived this myself, not in camping but in maybe a home project. You have lived out the words of 1 Peter so beautifully.
You are such a wonderful and needed role model to us. I love this line, "I saw a man who has made me a better woman."
You take my breath away! And you made me gigle with the "break out in hysterics" line.
Oh my.... to many memories here and trust me, even spiritual equal marriages have the "snake whisper" and silly arguments. I am still laughing with and at you you and me! Ha!
Lynn, "Raise the Tent," could be followed by the premiere of "Wallpaper that Wall!" This was hilarious, even if there was "yelling involved." I agree with Susanne; this is one of the most encouraging posts on marriage I've read in a long while. Thanks for making my day. And for reminding not to pitch a fit when I pitch a tent. Love ya!
Oh my goodness I could have written this....the dreaded words in our family because we know savory language will follow is "SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED". It was a running joke every Christmas, when the kids would get something that involved, "SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED"
Love this Lynn, you bless me.
I loooove the "snake whisper" comment! ROTFLOL. Sometimes my snake whisper has snake eyes (glaring evil laser beams)attached to it!
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1Peter3 work in progress. I like it. I'm also a Proverbs 31 work in progress. Much grace needed, BTW! You are awesome. xxxooo Links to this post: << Home
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