With instruments playing and voices raised we worshipped this morning.
In the midst of it the light grew dim over me and as I turned to look up there was my husband's strong arm raised in praise to his God.
Ephesians 5:22-24 "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
When your husband has hands raised in praise, thanksgiving, surrender, worship. When he is obedient to the Head of him...
Ephesians 5:25, 28-29 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body."
There is freedom here...
Thank You, Lord, for a husband who seeks You every day. Who has a teachable spirit and learns daily through Your Word. Who desires to live filled with the Holy Spirit. To know you more fully, to love you more deeply, and to serve in the ways You have created Him to. Give him courage to follow You the rest of his days. Give him wisdom as he leads our family and seeks Your will for all of us. And surround him with men who will encourage him to follow You. Thank You for the legacy of Godly men in his family. May he be one who leaves that legacy as well...
Day 3 of Intentional Living: Rest
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Because Christ Lives in Him
He sat there eating his banana and almond butter-he's allergic to peanut butter, sort of. The picture of patience, grace, waiting, thoughtfulness. This man, making me see Christ in my home. He makes me want to be more for the sake of the Kingdom, and for our family, for him.
Rewind to his return from a day of landscaping...hearing our daughter screaming from the stairwell he opened the door bringing a smile with fatherly words. Asking if I needed help with the Farmer's Market veggies covering the counter in preparation for dinner. Changing one of the stinkiest diapers in the history of stinky diapers. Offering to wash the dishes. Listening to our little one screaming from her crib at bedtime after a long day of teething and stumbling and growing.
I sat next to the bookshelf stacking the living room mess, excusing my behavior in my own mind. It was a long day. It was a whiney day. It was an exhausting day. It was a sore back day. That's why I replied with a sarcastic and angry tone when he suggested I let her cry a while as she lay in bed. I believe my exact words were, "Does it look like I'm going in there?"
And he just sat there at the table. No argument. No looks. No sighing or grumbling. Quietness. Waiting for me. If he had used words he couldn't say he loved me better at that moment.
I stood in the bathroom knowing I acted like an idiot. Yes it was a long day for me. What about him? No matter how trying, he is here. Loving. Serving. Paying attention. Helping. Providing. Encouraging. I walked out with a smile on my face knowing forgiveness was already there for me, but knowing it still needed to be said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I love you." He looked in my eyes and smiled. And what two years ago would have turned into a day, two days...of ignoring, pretending, avoiding, became a sweet moment for us. And we could enjoy our evening together not wasting it on pride.
How did I get here? With him? Who else could love me like he does? Love me through what he loves me through? Only Christ. And because Christ lives in him, this man can love me like he does. And all I can say is thank you.
Rewind to his return from a day of landscaping...hearing our daughter screaming from the stairwell he opened the door bringing a smile with fatherly words. Asking if I needed help with the Farmer's Market veggies covering the counter in preparation for dinner. Changing one of the stinkiest diapers in the history of stinky diapers. Offering to wash the dishes. Listening to our little one screaming from her crib at bedtime after a long day of teething and stumbling and growing.
I sat next to the bookshelf stacking the living room mess, excusing my behavior in my own mind. It was a long day. It was a whiney day. It was an exhausting day. It was a sore back day. That's why I replied with a sarcastic and angry tone when he suggested I let her cry a while as she lay in bed. I believe my exact words were, "Does it look like I'm going in there?"
And he just sat there at the table. No argument. No looks. No sighing or grumbling. Quietness. Waiting for me. If he had used words he couldn't say he loved me better at that moment.
I stood in the bathroom knowing I acted like an idiot. Yes it was a long day for me. What about him? No matter how trying, he is here. Loving. Serving. Paying attention. Helping. Providing. Encouraging. I walked out with a smile on my face knowing forgiveness was already there for me, but knowing it still needed to be said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I love you." He looked in my eyes and smiled. And what two years ago would have turned into a day, two days...of ignoring, pretending, avoiding, became a sweet moment for us. And we could enjoy our evening together not wasting it on pride.
How did I get here? With him? Who else could love me like he does? Love me through what he loves me through? Only Christ. And because Christ lives in him, this man can love me like he does. And all I can say is thank you.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
For the father in this house...
Love is patient...
waiting for me to find the right words
waiting for me to find something I lost
as Anna screams from the backseat
Love is kind...
when opening the car door
sitting on the couch to relax with Anna
fixing the bed so a finicky wife can rest peacefully
It does not envy...
but is content to know that we have the least we've ever had and are the happiest we've ever been
It does not boast...
even though you are the best husband, father, friend, and leader we could ask for
It is not proud...
you ask me what I think
you continue to learn from others
you seek wisdom and understanding from the Truth
It is not rude...
but tells me I'll look beautiful in whatever I wear
listens to others and responds thoughtfully
It is not self-seeking...
but will make dinner, take a second job, clean the house, change diapers, fix what's broken, go to the grocery store, and work all day all week
It is not easily angered...
even when keys are lost or money is tight or dinner is burned or the car needs fixing or there is poop in the tub :)
It keeps no record of wrongs...
even when I yell or get irritated too easily or food has been thrown to the floor by a certain toddler
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth...
in reading His word every day and seeking His will for our family and trusting He will lead us as we walk with Him.
It always protects...
We are covered in the prayers of your heart and because you serve the Protector
Always trusts...
Even though I have failed you and made a zillion mistakes you trust me with teaching our daughter
and to continue to move forward in this life with you
Always hopes...
in serving in ministry together
in the growing we have to look forward to
in training our daughter in the way she should go
in the possibilities laid out for us
Always perseveres...
through nights with a crying newborn and a crying wife
through days filled with poopy diapers and vomit-filled laundry
through this life with us
Love never fails...
you have been here for me for six years
you have been here for Anna for a year and a half
I know you will be here until our Father says, "The end" and we all live happily ever after
Love for Papa from your wife and daughter...we are so blessed by you.
waiting for me to find the right words
waiting for me to find something I lost
as Anna screams from the backseat
Love is kind...
when opening the car door
sitting on the couch to relax with Anna
fixing the bed so a finicky wife can rest peacefully
It does not envy...
but is content to know that we have the least we've ever had and are the happiest we've ever been
It does not boast...
even though you are the best husband, father, friend, and leader we could ask for
It is not proud...
you ask me what I think
you continue to learn from others
you seek wisdom and understanding from the Truth
It is not rude...
but tells me I'll look beautiful in whatever I wear
listens to others and responds thoughtfully
It is not self-seeking...
but will make dinner, take a second job, clean the house, change diapers, fix what's broken, go to the grocery store, and work all day all week
It is not easily angered...
even when keys are lost or money is tight or dinner is burned or the car needs fixing or there is poop in the tub :)
It keeps no record of wrongs...
even when I yell or get irritated too easily or food has been thrown to the floor by a certain toddler
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth...
in reading His word every day and seeking His will for our family and trusting He will lead us as we walk with Him.
It always protects...
We are covered in the prayers of your heart and because you serve the Protector
Always trusts...
Even though I have failed you and made a zillion mistakes you trust me with teaching our daughter
and to continue to move forward in this life with you
Always hopes...
in serving in ministry together
in the growing we have to look forward to
in training our daughter in the way she should go
in the possibilities laid out for us
Always perseveres...
through nights with a crying newborn and a crying wife
through days filled with poopy diapers and vomit-filled laundry
through this life with us
Love never fails...
you have been here for me for six years
you have been here for Anna for a year and a half
I know you will be here until our Father says, "The end" and we all live happily ever after
Love for Papa from your wife and daughter...we are so blessed by you.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Familiarity...
Reflecting on marriage today...
"Familiarity breeds boredom only to the blind and the real see-ers know the worth of vows worn polish smooth with all the days."
~Ann Voskamp
I'm so grateful for our familiarity. To have someone who knows me...and loves me still...and wants to know me more. Our days have often been difficult, and that's when the familiarity has grown the most and the love deepens and we know...til death do us part.
Not only on an anniversary, a birthday, Father's Day, but every day I'm grateful for this man. And believe because he tells me so that he's grateful for me. And I look forward to the polishing smooth days...
"Familiarity breeds boredom only to the blind and the real see-ers know the worth of vows worn polish smooth with all the days."
~Ann Voskamp
I'm so grateful for our familiarity. To have someone who knows me...and loves me still...and wants to know me more. Our days have often been difficult, and that's when the familiarity has grown the most and the love deepens and we know...til death do us part.
Not only on an anniversary, a birthday, Father's Day, but every day I'm grateful for this man. And believe because he tells me so that he's grateful for me. And I look forward to the polishing smooth days...
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