We Love You So

The other day, I caught myself telling a friend that my husband is sooooo good to me …

We somehow got on the topic of how awful we can be to our spouses at times, and yet they are unfailingly kind. How … do … they … do … that?

I had given her a recent example of how I had been less than kind… my husband was on a day trip to the city with his Dad and his brother. He left early “to be back early,” so I think I had it in my mind 3:00ish or so (not honestly sure why). Well, when talking to him around 3:00 on the phone, he was still at least two hours from home. Of course, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I had to make some snarky remark along the lines of “so much for being home early.” As soon as I said it, I regretted it … he would never say something like that to me. If I was running late, he would accept that I was running late and SAY NOTHING! It’s AMAZING really!

Of course, this isn’t the only thing about my husband that’s amazing. And today, as we celebrate his 39th birthday, I feel called to spend some time relishing in all of the awesome that he is!

My husband …

• never comments or complains about what I do or don’t accomplish in a day
• never comments or complains about my messes
• never comments or complains about what I cook or don’t cook
• is not afraid of hard work
• is extremely loyal
• never leaves without a proper goodbye
• tells me (and shows me) he loves me every day
• pitches in around the house … he ALWAYS helps with the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, he vacuums the entrance, he folds and puts away clean laundry …
• takes care of our kids (even the baby) … he baths them, changes diapers, helps them get dressed, feeds them, cuddles them, reads to them …

This year, we are celebrating 16 years together and nine years of marriage (December). It hasn’t been perfect by any means, but we’ve certainly made it work. So far, we’ve survived 15 years of seeding and harvests, six moves, a few minor (thankfully) accidents, two full-term pregnancies, one miscarriage, one pre-term pregnancy, six weeks in the NICU, a couple of job changes (for him), seven+ years of parenting … and through it all, we’ve been so very blessed.

It’s time for me to get back to those vows I declared so long ago …

“I will love and honour you all the days of my life.”

These vows should be honoured even when my husband …

• doesn’t take out the garbage
• hasn’t got my treadmill put together (with two weeks of hounding)
• chooses to hold the baby all evening instead of accomplishing anything
• hasn’t hung up our “welcome” sign
• leaves his dirty laundry all over the floor of our bedroom
• doesn’t clean up after himself

My love for my husband should never be dependent on what he does or doesn’t do in a day or who my husband is or isn’t. My love for Tyler SHOULD BE as UNFAILING as his is for me! Looks like I’ve got some work to do!

Happy birthday, Tyler! We love you so!