Saturday was an extremely hot day, at one point while we were driving around town my car's thermometer read 109 degree's. Because we live in the southwest, this is not a humid heat like you all have in the deep south or back east, its a dry, walk inside of an oven and shut the door heat! I won't argue that one type of heat is worse than another- anything over 100 is just miserable. So, to beat the heat our family planned some fun indoor activities for the day. One of which was a lunch date at one of our favorite restaurant Casa Jurado.
As Joe and I sat there with our daughter playing silly table games to entertain a toddler while we waited for our order to arrive, we couldn't help but over hear the loud, passionate conversation happening over my shoulder. This conversation involved a man and a woman who were both married to people not present at this lunch. At first it sounded like the man was throwing her a very exciting sales pitch for a time share or something..... but as their voices got louder it became apparent that they were actually discussing all the justifications why they should begin an affair. Not only was this an extremely uncomfortable conversation to overhear as a married couple with their small child, but Joe and I were both victims of cheating and heartbreak in our past marriages and relationships. We tried talking over them, but it didn't work so Joe started texting me from across the table; "Are they seriously discussing the benefits of cheating?". I am sure every other person in the restaurant including their waitress was wondering the same thing. Some of the arguements in favor of an affair included "But I just don't feel passion anymore", "I want to feel that first high school kiss again", "I know I shouldn't look forward to spending time with you, but I do!", "In the end isn't it easier for us to just follow our hearts and not our heads". I would love to use the excuse that I am just from a time when things like this were not discussed in public, and if an affair was to occur only the people invovled knew it was happening. But this couple was probably my parents age, so I know not only were they raised better but they know better!
The "couple" finally left and I was so grateful to be able to soak up what small amount normalcy we had left in our lunch. Joe and I sat there starring at one another in shock. Every bone in my body wanted to turn around and look them both in the face and say "What you are doing is breaking Jesus' heart! Why would you lower yourselves to something so sleezy?". I didn't but maybe I should have. When we finally left the restaurant I was so depressed. Has humanity really fallen so far from grace?? Were people really so bold that talking about wrecking two marriages, 4 lives, and dishonoring years of raising children together was casual lunch conversation?? God save us all!
I reflected on my own marriage, and I told Joe "Please promise to communicate with me, at every stage of life we need to always commit to sharing our needs because I refuse to let that ever be us!" Joe laughed and said "That won't ever be us Bailey because cheating is not an option, you are stuck with me for life". I'm so grateful I married a good man! I guess it is obvious to me now more than ever, that marriage is under attack.
