Love & Marriage 69 - The Kitchen - Practical togetherness
There is no perfect marriage. but every marriage can be improved. Marriages like houses, are meant to increase in value, when we discover that their value is decreasing. We need to talk frequent walk-throughs through the different areas of our marriage house and keep on renovating.
We started with the entryway and that was the commitment section and I did quite a few posts on commitment. The last one being this previous Sunday which is a must read.
https://steemit.com/christian-trail/@hope777/love-and-marriage-68-commitment-a-christian-perspective
Today and onwards I take a look at the kitchen, which represents all the practical projects in the marriage. The kitchen is the one part of the house where there is always activity. In many ways, it can be the centre of the house, someone busy to prepare a meal, someone looking through the fridge for something to snack on, someone cleaning up after meals. You can even meet a family member there at midnight when you think you sneak in for a snack. The kitchen becomes messy with cooking etc and need some cleaning frequently. It is also a good place to sit down by the counter and drink a cup of coffee together. So the kitchen reminds me of togetherness, that is practical togetherness.
Let me explain:
Marriage is full of hundreds of these ordinary, tiresome tasks. I don't think anybody loves them, but they have to be done. It is this tasks that keep life moving forward. It takes time, effort and most of the times it is inconvenient. Since marriage is full of these practical everyday chores, it would make a lot of sense to make use of these opportunities for togetherness. Some of my fondest memories of my grandparents are the picture of them working together after dinner. Grandma washing the dishes and Grandpa drying. Working side by side, they reviewed their day.
Dr. Steve Stephens said as he worked for with couples over the last 20 years, he finds that couples resist this area of togetherness. All too often they divided the tasks in "His" and "Her" categories. Hy pays the bills and she put the children to bed. He mows the lawn and she cooks the meals. He transports the children and she plans the budget. Every couple divides this tasks differently but the problem is that most things are divided.
It doesn't have to be that way, working together has a lot of advantages. Try it with the three primary areas of practical togetherness:
- financial management
- household chores
- parenting responsibilities
It is a lot easier than to do it alone and you will be amazed at how it brings you closer.
Next post I will explore this points further.
Source: Blueprints for a solid marriage, Dr. Steve Stephens
Images: freepik.com
Thank you for reading, be blessed, be together!
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Great post and idea of togetherness.Thanks for sharing friend, you are doing great job. Have a great day friend happy steeming.
Thanks for your support dear @maya7.
Most welcome friend, we should do each other for success. Thanks have a great day friend.
It's a nice and challenging post @hope777. It's true that married couples need to function as one. Help one another always to keep a marriage together.
Thanks @veejay. Are you married or in a relationship?
Am married to the same one woman for 33yrs. It was never a smooth one storms come and we overcome them by God's grace and keep on going on.
You are right. This is the only way of having an equilibrated marriage and maybe a happy one also. Thank you for this good quality post. Steemit is full of junk posts. I'm trying to do my part in improving quality on steemit. If you have good quality posts (and it seems you have) have a look here https://steemit.com/steemit/@alketcecaj/i-will-upvote-100-quality-posts-in-10-days and comment by inserting a link to your best post. I will check it and eventually upvote it if it is of good quality.
Thank you for your comment and I am following you, will drop a link sometime.
Great!
well written. Yes I get the practicality of the kitchen in reference to marriage. I also remember how the kitchen table was a area where communication and resolving family matters happen. unfortunately in America the family does not gather round the table much anymore. With people working and school activities it is more challenging. Good analogy. Thanks.
Yes, Troy that was wonderful times, sitting around a kitchen table. Even in my household we only sit around the table at special occasions as most of the other family members don't want to miss their regular "soapies". But you got me thinking now. If I serve dinner earlier or later maybe we can eat around the table again. Precious family time goes to waste by eating in front of the TV. At least we still say grace. The Tv's gets muted for the few seconds. Thank you for commenting.
When you eat in from of the TV you look at the TV. When you eat at the kitchen table, you look at each other. Eye contact is important. Thanks.