A different kind of win

Please humor me this one time.

I know this blog is about contests I join, or those that I want to share. Sometimes this is also where I rave about my latest wins. This time though, what I won is something different. I won a promise.

In November of 2007, we learned we were pregnant. Hubby and I both smoked (Marlboro Reds) but I immediately stopped. It was easy for me because I wasn't a heavy smoker to begin with. Hubby on the other hand, well... he's a different story. He used to smoke about a pack and a half a day. Because we were both working for the same company though, I understood the stress he was under.

He made a promise then. He'd slowly quit smoking and by the time I give birth, he promised he would have stopped by then already. I miscarried a couple of weeks after.

I did not smoke again. I told myself that if I was ready to quit then, I should still be able to uphold my decision. It wasn't just for the baby this time, it was for me too... and my future baby/ies. Hubby still smoked the same, if not more.

In February 2008, we found out we were pregnant again and he made the same promise. But that year was not very good for him. He lost his job and was in hiatus for a loooooooong time. I definitely understood his need for stress release through smoking.

Over the years, I kept making jokes about his promises and how it turned out, now that our little girl is 2 years old. His initial promise was 3 years ago. At times I would tell him that the stress in his situation will never go away, not for him, not for anyone. That would mean he would never actually be able to quit smoking.

Two nights ago something happened and he said he'd try to quit. He didn't say he would right there and then, he said he'd try. That was good enough for me. The next day was a weekend, and he only smoked 9 sticks. Today, he only bought half a pack instead of the 20-stick pack.

In my heart, I know I've already won. Please pray that he continues to fight this addiction. I know he tried several times already but something always comes up, with work, business or personal. This time I hope he overcomes whatever it is the will come and give him reason again not to stop.

I didn't get anything this time. No prize, no gadget, no gift certificate, nothing... just his word. But somehow this win is the most precious that I've ever won. A different kind of win, but the best one so far.