At the Hotel Dupont
Earlier this week I shared my plans for Cathy and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary at the Hotel Dupont. Here is what happened:
I picked Cathy up at 5:30 pm from Prestige Academy in Wilmington where she teaches math and is the 5th grade lead teacher.
I soon began following the directions on my iPhone to what I thought was the Hotel Dupont in Wilmington. I knew there was a problem when we started heading out of the city.
It was dark, raining, rush hour, and I was driving with one hand on the steering wheel while following the map on my iPhone held in my other hand.
I asked Cathy why she was so quiet. She said she was fearing for her life with the way I was driving! Not a good start to our evening. I can say not much has changed in 25 years of marriage!
So I pulled over, googled the correct address, and away we went to the Hotel Dupont.
As we approached the hotel she began to figure out where we were going and said, “If we are going where I think we are going you do realize the Hotel Dupont was just a few blocks from my school.” Ouch!
.…oh well…it would not be a normal trip if I did not make a few wrong turns.
After valet parking the car, we had a wonderful dinner together. The staff was friendly, the food good, and our time together fun. The total bill for our anniversary celebration (not including the 2 dozen roses) was:
Dinner: $176 with tip
Valet Parking: $18 with tip
Total: $194
It was worth every penny!
As I reflect on the evening I am reminded what made the evening special was not the ambiance of the Hotel Dupont or the expensive dinner. The evening was special because Cathy and I shared it with each other on our 25th wedding anniversary. We joked at one point we could be eating Big Mac’s together (one of my favorite foods!) and the evening would have been special. (Somehow I am not so sure).
But, I do know it was our relationship which made the evening special, regardless of how much the dinner cost.
The highlight of the evening was the card Cathy gave to me. Since we were married in 1989, she took a lyric from 25 1980’s songs (one for each year of our marriage) and related the lyric to something special or fun in our lives. That is what made the evening special for me, not where we were eating. The 80’s lyrics were priceless!
Your relationship with Jesus is the same way. In John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…”
What makes your spiritual life special is you live in relationship with Jesus. That relationship happens everywhere in your life. In the most expensive places and in the least expensive places.
Cathy and I had a special evening because we have spent 25 years investing significantly in our marriage. As you invest in your relationship with Jesus, you will grow in your relationship. This is why it is important to invest in your spiritual growth. There is nothing more important since you will be spending eternity with Jesus.
So what anniversary with Jesus is coming up for you? Your 1st… 5th…10th…25th? Make each anniversary more special than the last by investing in your spiritual growth. Remember it’s not about the life situation you find yourself in. It is about the intimacy of your relationship with Jesus which is most important.
What can you do today to invest more in your relationship with Jesus?
