Why Make the Bed?

My wife Tammy has been gone for several days.  In her absence, Marshall and I are doing OK.  We have cooked and cleaned a little, worked a little, and goofed off a litt . . . er . . . a lot. 

Typically, while she is gone, there are certain things that just don’t get done.  At least not until the day before her return.  The laundry, the floors, the dishes, kitchen counter, and sink.  We don’t exactly let them get horrible, but they are not quite up to the standards of a good housekeeper.   And the bed?  Why make the bed when you are just going to get right back in it when evening rolls around.  The bed almost never gets made until the morning of her arrival.  Almost, except for today.

Tammy is not expected back until tomorrow, but I made the bed today.  I didn’t intend for it to happen.  I just meant to pull up the sheet and blanket like always, but instead, I just kept going.  Bedspread, throw pillows and all.

Before I was married, I almost never made the bed.  Over 27 years of marriage to Tammy has changed that.  Granted, she is the one who makes the bed most days, but now, sometimes I do it.  Some of you may say I have given in.  That I have lost my manhood and taken up the “Yes dear,” mantra.  Despite what you may say, today is proof that it is not true. 

Today I made the bed even though Tammy was not here.  She wouldn’t know if I made it or not.  She wouldn’t see it, or be with me when I yank it back open and slide in it tonight.  She would never know how neat it looked, but I made it anyway.   And I think I know the reason. 

I made the bed because I love her.  Because it’s a thing that’s important to her.   And because today as I was pulling up the covers and throwing on the pillows, I thought of her.  What was important to her was, in that moment, important to me.  And it felt right.  

I believe God is often on Tammy’s side of the fence.  No, I don’t think it’s important to him that I make the bed.   What I do believe is that he loves us, that he has made us in his own image and that he wants us to love him back.  He wants us to love him, live with him and know him in such a way that what is important to him is important to us.   He wants our relationship with him to grow to the point where we live to please him, not because he’s watching, but because we love him.   Then, when no one is around to see.  When there is no one to praise us for our good deeds, or shame us for our bad ones, we can still act in love and do what we ought to do.  Not because we have to, but because it just feels right.

1John 3:1 ¶ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  NKJV