Tucked into the pages of Deuteronomy 24 there is a gem.  In the midst of laws about tithes and offerings and uncleanness in the camp, under the heading “Miscellaneous Laws” is this treasure:

“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him.  For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”  Deut. 24:5

Sounds like a year long honeymoon to me!  Can you imagine?  The husband’s only duty was to bring happiness to his bride.  The Message version puts it like this:  “When a man takes a new wife, he is not to go out with the army or be given any business or work duties. He gets one year off simply to be at home making his wife happy.”

I admit there’s a lot of Old Testament laws that I just don’t know what to do with, such as “Do not cook a young goat in its mothers milk,” or “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material”.  I’m sure there’s some significance to those commands but I haven’t got a clue.  However, this one in Deuteronomy makes more sense to me.  I wouldn’t mind my husband dedicating a year of his life to making me happy.  Wait a minute.  PB has pretty much dedicated his whole life to making me happy.  Huh.

Dan and Anna, make each other happy your whole life long.