Does He Buy You Avocados

Chris: 

Michelle and I have been married for a while and have had our fair share of ups and downs.  We have also gone through a lot of things together, some of which tested her patience with me and mine with her.  But our marriage is a partnership.  One in which I accept the differences between us as well as the little things that can drive me crazy, knowing she will do the same.  

Michelle:

Recently, our twenty-five year old daughter and I were talking.  I told her, I had some great new marriage advice: Marry the man that buys you avocados. This may sound like strange advice, but here’s what happened.  Like many couples, we are going through a lot right now. With the recent passing of my dad and my mom’s continuous demands, we are both running on empty. The other day, I texted Chris a grocery list.  I asked him to stop on his way home, for a few items.  I told him that I had a really rough day at work and just didn’t have a chance to stop.  About forty minutes after I sent the first text, I realized we were out of avocados. I called him to ask if he could grab them. 

‘Are you sure we don’t have any?’ his voice sounded tired. 

‘No,’ I snapped back feeling upset he would even ask that. ‘Please don’t forget them before you check out.’ 

By the time he got home it was later than I anticipated and I was frustrated. He came in with the groceries but the avocados were in a different store bag. 

‘Why are there two different bags?’ I asked him. 

‘I had already checked out and was driving home when you called. I wanted to get home quickly, because I know you had a rough day. But I had to make another stop because I knew we needed them.’ 

That’s when my anger subsided and my guilt set in for getting frustrated with him. I immediately walked over and wrapped my arms around him.  I was so grateful that no words were needed.  As part of our latest health kick, almost evening, we enjoy this little salad, with avocados. My husband knows this, so he made the extra stop. 

Chris:

Marriage isn’t just about flowers and grand gestures. Marriage is so much more than that.  Marriage is weathering storms together.  It’s being a shoulder to cry on when a parent dies. It’s hand holding in silence on the couch after a long day. It’s about finding a way to connect, even if that connection is a simple smile from across the room.  Marriage is about going out of our way for one another and showing each other in little ways that they are loved.  Marriage is about trying to come home early when one of us has had a bad day even if our own day wasn’t so great.  And sometimes, marriage is about buying the avocados.