My Favorite Tennis Shoes

adjective – arousing or characterized by intense feeling

13 years ago, I received a gift that I’ve never forgotten.  It wasn’t wrapped with brightly colored paper or topped with a delicately tied bow. It wasn’t expensive or the top item on my gift wish list. In fact, this gift didn’t cost a dime and meant more than any “thing” that could ever be purchased and given to me. That gift was an emotional word picture that my husband painted with words and read to me in the middle of Young Marrieds Sunday School class. Although the paper is tucked somewhere deep in a scrapbook box, I still remember the words and the feel the impact it had on my heart.

My sports-obsessed, easy-going, fun-loving, rarely serious husband painted a picture that compared me to a rare and exquisite flower. One that everyone wishes they could have but he alone was allowed to keep its beauty all for himself. The word picture went on with a little more description (I’ll spare you the sappiness) but in that instant, I realized just how much he valued me.  I was shocked at his ability to reach into my heart with his words (something very few men can do) and tell me exactly what I had longed to hear. It was my first word gift from him.

Those written words were prompted by a homework assignment that each couple had to complete during a study of one of Gary Smalley’s relationship books. (See, I can’t remember the name of the study but I do remember the Word Gift given to me during the study.) Smalley is the creator of the Emotional Word Picture concept that when used correctly strengthens relationships by increasing understanding.

Because Mr. Smalley’s ideas are copyrighted, I will not be printing the steps in creating an Emotional Word Picture for my readers here on the blog. However, I did find a website that reprinted his ideas (legally) and you can check out the step-by-step process of creating one as well as reading about its benefits by clicking here.

Remember I said that each of us in that Sunday School class were challenged to write an Emotional Word Picture for our spouse?  I remember the one Keith wrote for me, but I also remember the one I wrote for Keith. And since it’s been 13 years since he’s heard it, it bears repeating again since the description still fits.

Keith, you are like a favorite pair of tennis shoes. You know the kind that you see in the store and you just have to have.  You try them on and love them even more. But the best part is when you take them home and begin to wear them everyday, they become more and more comfortable and you can’t stand to spend day not wearing those shoes. They are always comfortable, and everyone you meet always compliments you on what a great pair of tennis shoes they are.  So it is with you. You always make me feel comfortable as well as anyone else you meet. I can’t stand to spend a day without you, and no matter how many years we are together, you will always be my favorite pair of shoes!

If you created an emotional word picture for someone special in your life, what could you compare them to?