Better to be Happy
Better to be Happy
“If Mamma aint happy, aint nobody happy”
Truer words were never spoken.
Pat was upset at me and our house hold was in disarray. We had argued about something, I can’t remember what. It was something small and trivial, like the plural of hippopotamus. We had hardly spoken to each other all day, and as the day began to come to an end, I could feel the toll that being disharmonious had produced. It was hard to concentrate on anything other then how to convince her I was right. I didn’t feel like being bothered by friends. My appetite had dwindled, (When I’m not mad, it’s just the opposite, I could eat the house.)
Driving home that evening, I wrestled with my conscience. Why were we mad at each other, why was I mad, why did being right have to win out over being happy?
In pre-marital counseling, our counselor covered conflict resolution. A lot of things were said that we heard as advice for some, but not for us. We were in love, and love would keep us from conflict. So we took most of what was said and put it in the tool box of marital problem solving.
Now, I had to open it.
It was small, but full. There had been so much advice given from everyone. From our pastor to a little old lady I didn’t even know. One tool in particular stood out from the rest, “In marriage, it is better to be happy then right”
I changed lanes and went back to the convenience store I had just past. When I got home, Pat was at work on the computer, answering emails that would have normally been deleted. She looked up briefly from the screen with wondering eyes. I smiled lightly, like only I can do, and put a cold peach mango Fuze drink on the desk beside her.
I was nearly out of the room when I heard a small whispery voice, “Thank you.”
Even though her thanks was appreciated, it wasn’t necessary. I had done this act as much for myself as I had for her.
While looking in the fool box, I found some other things. “It’s hard to be mad at some one while doing something nice for them.” “Act like you care long enough, and eventually, you will.”
Well, needles to say, I was wrong, being in love doesn’t make you immune from conflict.. In fact, conflict, can actually make your love stronger.
In time, I’ve come to realize that people, yes that includes spouses, have a right to be wrong. I don’t have to fix everything, because some things, though broken, still work just fine.
The other day, I think I heard Pat say Rio de Janeiro was the capitol of Brazil. I think I’ll tell her…oops
No, I think I’d rather be happy.
Jerry Hunt
5linx.net/jerrypat
“If Mamma aint happy, aint nobody happy”
Truer words were never spoken.
Pat was upset at me and our house hold was in disarray. We had argued about something, I can’t remember what. It was something small and trivial, like the plural of hippopotamus. We had hardly spoken to each other all day, and as the day began to come to an end, I could feel the toll that being disharmonious had produced. It was hard to concentrate on anything other then how to convince her I was right. I didn’t feel like being bothered by friends. My appetite had dwindled, (When I’m not mad, it’s just the opposite, I could eat the house.)
Driving home that evening, I wrestled with my conscience. Why were we mad at each other, why was I mad, why did being right have to win out over being happy?
In pre-marital counseling, our counselor covered conflict resolution. A lot of things were said that we heard as advice for some, but not for us. We were in love, and love would keep us from conflict. So we took most of what was said and put it in the tool box of marital problem solving.
Now, I had to open it.
It was small, but full. There had been so much advice given from everyone. From our pastor to a little old lady I didn’t even know. One tool in particular stood out from the rest, “In marriage, it is better to be happy then right”
I changed lanes and went back to the convenience store I had just past. When I got home, Pat was at work on the computer, answering emails that would have normally been deleted. She looked up briefly from the screen with wondering eyes. I smiled lightly, like only I can do, and put a cold peach mango Fuze drink on the desk beside her.
I was nearly out of the room when I heard a small whispery voice, “Thank you.”
Even though her thanks was appreciated, it wasn’t necessary. I had done this act as much for myself as I had for her.
While looking in the fool box, I found some other things. “It’s hard to be mad at some one while doing something nice for them.” “Act like you care long enough, and eventually, you will.”
Well, needles to say, I was wrong, being in love doesn’t make you immune from conflict.. In fact, conflict, can actually make your love stronger.
In time, I’ve come to realize that people, yes that includes spouses, have a right to be wrong. I don’t have to fix everything, because some things, though broken, still work just fine.
The other day, I think I heard Pat say Rio de Janeiro was the capitol of Brazil. I think I’ll tell her…oops
No, I think I’d rather be happy.
Jerry Hunt
5linx.net/jerrypat
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