Delighting in Difference

Before I met my husband, I thought that I would marry someone who was basically just like me. I imagined that this theoretical guy would have all the same interests, ideas, and hopes. We would sit side by side, reading the same genres, listening to the same styles, and writing the same thoughts. I conceived of a relationship between two people with essentially the same identity. One soul in two bodies.

This idea didn’t happen. And I’m so thankful, because it would have been about as interesting as sitting alone on a see-saw. Marriage, for us, is more like a Venn diagram, with enough overlap among personality traits and interests to make the relationship comfortable, while we each have our own ways of thinking and sufficiently different pursuits.

Differences are so interesting and fun. Although before I met Mason I knew nothing of website-building or Japanese anime, now I can appreciate their merits.  While Mason might have never baked a cake from scratch or initiated frequent travel, now he values these things and enjoys them. We make our own life together, each learning from the other.

Last week, Mason’s brother and sister-in-law sent us gifts that perfectly illustrated the similarity and distinction between Mason and me. We both got action figures, but the semblance ended there. Can you tell which one belongs to whom?