Hypocrites, Cut Flowers, and Why My Husband Still Misses the Point

By Marty

So my husband—God love him—once told me, “I don’t go to church because it’s full of hypocrites.”

And I, being the holy, patient, and deeply sarcastic wife that I am, responded with:

“Then you might want to stop going to work, stop watching movies, and definitely avoid Chipotle—because hypocrites go there too.”

He didn’t get my point.
I think he thought I was being dramatic.

I was. But I was also being correct.

🚪 The Hypocrite Excuse

Let’s break it down:
Not going to church because of hypocrites is like saying:

“I won’t go to the gym because there are out-of-shape people there.”

“I won’t see a therapist because some patients haven’t healed yet.”

“I won’t go to the ER because sick people make me uncomfortable.”

What even is that logic?
The Church isn’t a country club for the perfected.
It’s a field hospital for the battle-wounded.
And baby, we are all limping in.

🥀 Cut Flowers and Commitment Issues

Now here’s where it gets paradoxical.
I was talking to a friend recently about that same husband, and I mentioned how he never buys
me flowers.

“He says they just die,” I explained.
Without missing a beat, she shrugged and said, “Then buy live ones.”

I stared at her like she’d just rewritten the Book of Proverbs.

🌱 And That’s It, Isn’t It?

This is what our world does:

“Why go to church? It’s full of fake people.”

→ Okay, then be real.

“Why buy flowers? They die.”

→ Then plant something.

→ Then worship purely.

Don’t reject the thing just because someone mishandled it.
That’s not rebellion—that’s relational cowardice dressed in a hoodie of reason.

✝️ Here’s the Truth:

Yes, the Church has hypocrites.
So does your family.
So do you.
So do I.

But the difference between a hypocrite and a Christian is that the Christian is the one who falls
and gets back up—over and over again—because they know the One who never does.

🌻 Final Thought

If my husband ever buys me flowers—cut or live—I’ll thank him.
But if he ever walks into Mass,
Knees trembling, doubts intact, pride peeled back,
And sits next to all the other busted-up hypocrites who are trying anyway…

I’ll fall in love with him all over again.

And if not?

Well, I’ll still buy the flowers.
I’ll still go to Mass.
And I’ll still be the hypocrite who knows she needs saving.

Every. Single. Sunday.

📖 Scripture:

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

— Luke 5:31–32