The Lesson Our Fender-Bender Taught Me About Marriage

Last Friday, we were rear-ended on the way to Costco and ended up getting a ride home in the back of a police car. Nobody was hurt — but the situation came with a lesson.

See, the traffic near our bridge backs up every day. Jeff usually waits patiently in the long line. I tend to scan for openings and move when I see one. This time, he listened to my suggestion, found an opening, took it — and minutes later, we got hit.

And yes — we had that conversation.

“Maybe if we had stayed in the long line…”
“Maybe I should’ve trusted my gut…”

It wasn’t a fight — just that familiar marital tension we all know. His way. My way. Whose way was “right”?

Turns out… neither. And both.

Because the accident wasn’t about right or wrong — it was about life being unpredictable. About realizing our marriage works best when we let go of the need to control each other. When we honor each other’s instincts, even when they differ. When we stop believing peace only comes if our spouse sees things our way.

Sometimes the real test in marriage isn’t who was right — it's whether you can stay on the same team when life jolts you off course.

So the question is…
Do you trust your spouse’s way of doing things?
Can you breathe even when your plan isn’t the one being followed?

Letting go isn’t weakness. It’s love. It’s humility. It’s partnership.

And sometimes, yes — it looks like sitting in the back of a police car together, laughing, and choosing team-us over being right.

If you’re ready to build a marriage where you trust each other’s instincts again — even in the messy, unexpected moments — Marriage in Bloom walks you through that kind of transformation one step at a time.

Learn more: https://debbiecaudle.com/marriageinbloom