My first Christmas as a new bride was a disaster.
When my husband reached underneath the tree and handed me a diamond necklace-diamond earring-gold watch-shaped sort of a box, I was excited. When I opened it and saw a set of commemorative Liberty Coins–the Statue of Liberty coins–I cried.
The U.S. government sold coins depicting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to raise funds to refurbish the monuments in the 80s. (Lucky me.)
Was I a coin collector? No. Had I EVER expressed any interest in coin collecting? No. At that time, I’d never even seen the Statue of Liberty. I couldn’t even use the coins to buy something I wanted. I was disappointed.
It sounds selfish and ungrateful to cry over a gift. I know, it’s the thought that counts. I was upset because I didn’t think my husband was thinking of me when he gave me Liberty Coins. He was the coin collector, not me. And I also cried because I thought of the hundreds of gift giving occasions to come.
At that time I didn’t understand the reason for my hurt. I now know it was unmet expectations.
I knew my husband loved me, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I knew if I didn’t say something, my hurt would come out in the form of anger.
It’s pretty simple. James said in Chapter 4, Verses 1-2, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it.”
I wanted something–other than Liberty Coins— and I didn’t get it. Maybe you’ve never been disappointed by an unmet expectation, but unmet expectations have caused a fair share of disappointment in our marriage through the years.
We’ve been married for 30 years now. And, we laugh when we talk about the Liberty Coins. I haven’t always handled disappointment in the right way.
But I’ve learned to identify when I’m upset over unmet expectations.
Instead of immediately launching a verbal assault, I try to give myself time to cool off.
Talking to God, reading Scripture or sequestering myself for a little while usually puts me in a more level-headed state of mind, which creates an environment for dialogue.
It also gives me a chance to collect my thoughts and express myself without drama. My husband doesn’t go into defense mode, which leaves him open to an apology, if one’s necessary.
Today, I wouldn’t cry to day over a gift. But my disappointment over the coins was evident. And, once my husband figured out why I was upset, he was more than apologetic.
Liberty Coins aren’t a bad gift, if you like that sort of thing. I expected something different.
People-husbands, friends, relatives- will let me down at some point. When I’m hurting or disappointed because of an unmet expectation, God will provide liberty through grace to forgive.
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