Cue the Demanding Foot Tap
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Valentine's Day.
Rome seemingly started it, Chaucer might have romanticized it.
Successful, smart, savvy women ignore it.
Allegedly.
Fine, fine. We'll accept a little, inexpensive token of your affection this Valentine's Day. We all know this is a silly holiday, but nevertheless, we'll accept a small something. Yes, we will.
Um. Where is it? What is it? Certainly, it needn't be too much! But not too little either. Just don't let it be … nothing at all.
And so begins the expectant, tapping foot.
Silent Expectations
This is not a phenomenon exclusive to Valentine's Day. The tapping foot can contaminate a relationship all year round. After we say those beloved "I do's," spouses face a lifetime of coming to terms with this conundrum: "I do want to give you what you want! However, I also do … not always know how."
In the midst of that reality, a tapping foot serves one purpose: it stresses everybody out.
But if you're like me, it's a little hard to knock it off.
The expectant tapping can come in many disguises. For instance, back when I was newly married, I told my husband that I liked a particular inexpensive fake pearl necklace.
Not long after that, ta da! My husband gave me a beautiful red velvet box. Inside?
A pearl necklace. Real pearls.
You can imagine my reaction.
"Um, what the …? These don't look plastic."
They were not.
"These don't look cheap."
They were not.
"How much exactly did you spend on this?" I was hoping he kept the receipt.
I mean, we were poor. Super poor. And my heritage on that subject was tainted. My family had had a history of financial problems that left me terrified about money moving forward. Didn't he know this?
Meanwhile, he just wanted to be kind and generous. And his heritage was very prudent—I could trust that he was not a crazy spender. My bleak reaction was crushing. Didn't I know this?
Tap. Tap. Tap. The deafening silence of our expectations killed the buzz on that gift-giving moment for sure.
It sounds ridiculous because we had dated for years. But getting to know each other takes time. A long time. And the fallout during that process can drive us to great growth! Or it can make us crestfallen, guilt-ridden, blech.
How the whole thing plays out can be colored by whether or not we're willing to release each other from those tap tap tapping expectations.
Waiting for Moses
If anybody gets this, it's God. He understands the pressure of demanding, tapping feet, even from loved ones. Like the Israelites. After the honeymoon of getting out of Egypt was starting to fade.
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C
It's remembrance, not results. Excellent, as is the whole foot-tapping imagery! I especially appreciate the reminder/clarification that we who are frugal are just as susceptible. Unless we stick with what really, really works -- being expectant toward God in a thankful, joyful, everyday way, celebrating with hands held up in praise, and cupped to receive more! The more we say and do in gratitude, the more we seem to find to thank and praise Him for. And the glee grows. As we trade in our checklists for the joy of daily surprises, guess what? Everybody who falls short gets off the hook. And even better yet, joy is contagious. Thanks for encouraging us "while it is still Today"!
Molly
Excellent perspective. I had been tapping my foot yesterday for my husband's gift and he knew it and did not disappoint. I struggle with the foot tapping in my life and it is so hard to work on God's timeline rather than my own, which I think is the right one but in my heart of hearts I know mine is not the best timeline. Thanks for reminding me.
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