S.W.A.K. Challenge

Kristen from We Are THAT Family started a challenge a while back. Participants were to kiss their hubbies — really kiss them, no simple little pecks — at least once a day for a month and then post about it during the S.W.A.K. Carnival this week.

I didn’t participate.

Well, I kinda did, but I didn’t truly commit to it. I don’t handle pressure well! And – well, I don’t really have a good excuse. I did give my man a couple passionate greetings and those … went very well. (Can you see my grin?) But I wasn’t fully faithful to the challenge.

I did not intend to write any of this when I started this post!

This morning in my Mama Loves post I mentioned how I really hate husband bashing. (For the record, I also hate wife bashing. Just wanted to clarify that for the strong, silent males who read this blog.) Spouses need to uphold one another! We need to pray for each other, love one another, encourage and challenge. We do not need to nitpick, nag or complain about each other, whether to their faces or behind their backs. It’s just terrible and it does no one any good. In fact, it destroys relationships.

A very wise woman, my mama’s best friend, counseled me many times throughout my youth. I know find myself repeating one of her true nuggets: “Keep your eyes wide open before the wedding and half closed after.” It’s extremely important to know what you’re getting into, but once you’re committed, you need to overlook the little things in order to succeed. Sometimes the little things are the best parts! And sometimes they’ll drive you up a wall. But when you focus on the good things, the wonderful things, the things that drew you together and made you fall in love, then the little things are just that — little things. They don’t matter as much because you choose to focus on the best. You consciously live out Philippians 4:8-9 in your marriage.

We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day any more than we celebrate our anniversary. Every day together is a blessing. Every day is a gift and something to be celebrated, one day no more important than the rest. BUT I will take the calendar’s initiative to encourage you: honor your spouse today. And the next day. And the day after that. If you’re not sure how, jump over to the S.W.A.K. Carnival and read how others are doing it. Bloggers will link up there with their husband-honoring posts throughout the rest of this week.

If you’re a blogger and want to participate, go there now to see the list of prizes that Kristen will be giving away.