The Things You Do For Love

Today was my long mow day.  I have to mow my lawn at least once a week, but about once every three or four weeks I have to get my push mower out and mow places I cannot get to with my riding mower.  One of these places is under the Magnolia tree in my back yard.  This is Cheryl’s favorite tree in the whole world, but it is the tree that may one day cause me to lose my Christianity.  We have been told it may be the largest and one of the oldest Magnolia trees in the city.  I think that means it has lived a good life and it is time to let it go. She thinks that means it is even more special.  Cheryl does not want me cutting any branches on it and it is almost impossible get under to mow, even with my push mower.

As I was mowing today, here are the random thoughts that were going through my mind:

• I hate this tree.
• Cheryl takes less time to enjoy this tree than the time it takes me to hate this tree.
• One time Nathaniel wanted to take a branch from our state tree to school for extra credit. I sent one of these branches. The problem was that our state tree is the Tulip Poplar and this tree is a Magnolia.  Oh well, he didn’t get extra credit, but I did get rid of a branch.
• If I die early it will most likely be as the result of trying to mow under this tree.
• If we cut this tree down I could plant a garden.  Cheryl loves fresh tomatoes.
• I keep obeying Cheryl’s wishes by not cutting this tree.  It seems to me another man once listened to his wife about a tree…let’s see, it was in a garden…and it seems to me the world was never the same again.  Just saying…
• We have neighbor girls who sometimes like to climb this tree.  Someday they could get hurt. Cheryl hates to see anyone suffer.  Just saying…
• Magnolia trees are not even that pretty and their flowers have no smell.  Just saying…
• WARNING: If our youth group ever decides to do another prank at the pastor’s house it would not be a good idea to cut down this tree as a joke.  It would not be funny.  Yes, we are Grace Community Church, so we would forgive you, and I would most likely pay to clean it up, and it would be an impressive prank, but please do not cut down our Magnolia tree.  It would not be funny…but just so you know…we would forgive you.  If you choose to do this in spite of my warning, just remember I told you it would not be funny.
• I keep mowing under this tree, even though I hate this ugly Magnolia tree, because I want nothing more than for Cheryl to be happy.  If I die trying to please her it will be a worthy sacrifice.  Just saying…

Thanks for sharing my random thoughts with me.  Do you have any situations like this in your marriage, where you do something you do not like to do just because you love the person who wants it done?