10 Things In 10 Years – In Law Edition
10 Years ago in May, I married my wife.
I’ve learned sooooo much I thought I would start documenting what I’ve learned on here.
This is what I have learned from my in-laws since the day they’ve let me into their family…
1. I have learned how to change the alternator in my car.
2. I have learned what Mama Barkumes reaction when I call her and say…”Mama. I’m so sorry. We’ve been in an accident. I don’t know how Heather is. They won’t tell me anything. She’s in the ambulance. I’m so sorry.”
3. I’ve learned how to take my steering wheel off to fix the steering column. All over the phone.
4. I’ve learned how much a wife craves the love of her mother in a way a husband could never understand.
5. I’ve learned how to change the oil in my car.
6. I’ve learned more about faith, strength, and love from a couple who don’t call themselves Christian than I have from most Christians.
7. I’ve learned how to change the starter on my car.
8. I’ve learned that Multiple Sclerosis might take your strength away…but it doesn’t take your strength away.
9. I’ve learned how to check my head gaskets.
10. I’ve learned that in order to know how to best love your wife…you watch her father love her mother.
RAIN IT DOWN
keep learning…
i hope my daughter in law can say she has learned from me as time goes on.
I learned my in-law’s reaction to being told they were going to be grandparents for the first time and then reactions when they were told that the baby (and the next) was not to be. Now they are blessed with two granddaughters.
I also learned that everyone’s family has some kind of disgusting holiday food tradition. My in-law’s is: pickled asparagus.
Sounds like you need a new car.
I never comment here – I just lurk. This is comment-worthy and I have no words other than to thank you for honoring your in-laws so graciously. Marry up?
I’ve learned that Heather has her mama’s eyes!
sweet
I’ve learnt how much my wife needed the love and approval of her parents, especially since they’ve passed away.
And that I’m pretty sure her father was only joking when he offered me money to take her off of his hands!
Just in case you were wondering – I didn’t accept the money – but if I had, then I would have had the bargin of the century!
I have been blessed with 22 years to learn things from my in-laws.
I now know what true gentleness looks like (mother-in-law) and how important it is to tell the stories of your family to the next generation (father-in-law). Both priceless gifts!
Thanks for making me stop and remember what I so often take for granted.
I’ve learned to continue to wait for the guy who’ll post this, in his own words, in ten years.
ditto*
You got the grammar right!
Beautiful post.
I love this post! Beautiful.
I can’t even say what I’ve learned from my inlaws, but I will anyway
… what not to pierce when your over 40, don’t try to convince your son and his wife that the contraption in the spare room is “work out equiptment” when there’s hand cuffs on it…there’s so much more but We’re selling the story to Jerry Springer so can’t tell more.
All true but the Springer part.
I am not married, but I love #10. Definitely something I will apply as the years go by…
Enjoyed that. I’ve learnt that God is a matchmaker. Marriage is beautiful – challenging at times but mostly, its incredible. I see Jesus in my hubby – a lot. And so I believe I’m marriage – mine and others cause my faith is in God at work in me and God at work in my man… I’ve learnt that God is committed to incredible marriages more than we are… I’ve also learnt that a man treats his wife like he did/does his mom. My hubby adores his mom, respects her, loves her and looks out for her. In the first year of our marriage God showed us how committed to our unity He was and He showed my hubby what leaving his family and joining to me was all about. My husband made me his family first and it did something supernatural to our relationship, our oneness… I could go on and on… I’m more in love than ever. Thank u Jesus.
This is so true. My father passed away when I was 15 years old. For 10 years, I spent much of my life searching for male figures to look up to.
(you always here the whole “look to Jesus” bit, and “God is your father). Yeah yeah yeah… I got that whole “cliche” bit down pat… but I wanted a person that I could relate to.
I found a few along the path… but I’ve been blessed by a great father in law. I can connect with you on a few of these. Good stuff.
Macho
Great post and even better learnings! Hope I’m blessed with amazing in-laws one day.
So good bro.
In the past 11 years I have learned about simple love. Hard work. Respect. Love = time. I have seen a woman love a man through times when he wasn’t easy to love. I have seen that love change a man to be more expressive, more gentle, and more filled with joy.
Most of all, and so opposite from my side of the family, I have seen a love that endures and never calls it quits.
Thank you God for letting me in this amazing family.
Could you teach my husband the car stuff?
Found you through SCL and the Perez Hilton bruhaha (and for the record, a dad who apologizes when he unintentionally hurts his kid’s feelings is a good dad in my book), and this made me tear up.
…which was to say: thank you. Beautiful.