It has been said that there is more written on President Lincoln than any other person in American history. I don’t know if that is true or not, but go walk the shelves of most any library, and you will realize that much has certainly been written regarding Lincoln.
I wonder if he and Mrs. Lincoln ever attended a marriage seminar.
While at a political gala ball, a lady approached Lincoln and asked him, “How old do you think I am?” “That’s a pretty difficult question you have asked me” was his reply. Putting a hand to his beard, he thought for a moment and then said, “Why, I don’t know whether to guess you are ten years older because of the wisdom I hear you possess, or ten years younger because of the beauty I see.” Well, now, ole Abe handled that one with a lot of wisdom.
This past weekend, my wife and I attended a two-day marriage enrichment seminar. After nearly forty-seven years of marriage, I am sure there are areas that could use a touch-up on my part. Marriage is like a lot of other things in life: it’s a journey never “with a complete arrival.” But with all of Mr. Lincoln’s wisdom, I’ve got a marriage question for him. Yes, I do. Sure would like to see him wiggle out of this one.
Let’s set up this little scenario, Mr. Lincoln. This is a situation I recently encountered. Just imagine you and the little Mrs. are getting ready to go out for the evening, maybe to a movie, dinner with friends, the theater (oops, sorry, could be bad planning for you.). While getting yourself all fancy and fixed up, your wife is standing in front of that full-length mirror. She’s twisting and turning more than Chubby Checker doing his thing on American Bandstand. She tosses her head to the side and says to you, “Tell me, does this dress make me look fat?” OK, OK, now think and you best go really slow, choose your words carefully. You say, “Uh uh, oh no, honey. You really look good in that dress.” Uh oh, you answered too fast. “I know you’re just saying that to make me feel good” she says. Now it is your move. What do you say now Mr. Lincoln? You answered the lady’s question about her age very wisely, and she went truckin’ off smiling, but how would you handle my situation?
Footnote: In my wife’s defense, she followed her question with this statement:
“That’s not a fair question is it?”
October 24, 2011
Keep on,
Larry Adamson