Wendy’s computer crashed late last week. She was left with a big void, not having the computer or the files necessary to do much that is on her plate for work. So, she read. Her nose was in a book all weekend.
One of the things that I’ve come to love and appreciate about my wife is that she doesn’t hold in her emotions. Personally, I think it’s great. I never have to guess what she’s feeling. She makes it perfectly clear. It also makes watching movies and television more interesting. Wendy jumps, guffaws, screams, talks to the characters on screen, writhes, buries her head in my shoulder, and sometimes squeezes my hand until the blood drains from it. Watching a movie is a fuller experience as you experience it through Wendy’s reactions.
Reading is the same for Wendy. She talks to the book, laughs out loud, utters exclamations and cries. As she ended the book Jimmy by Robert Whitlow this weekend – the tears began to streak down her face and sobs followed. I didn’t mind. I got to hold her as she gathered herself and we enjoyed a wonderful laugh together at the moment.
I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always been very good with my emotions. I’ve stuffed my anger until it oozes out in all sorts of unhealthy ways. I run from "bad" feelings and find myself in places I don’t want to be. I hold my praise in check when I get the feeling God would rather have me dancing in my underwear like King David.
But I’m learning from my wife how to let go. And that’s a very good thing.