Each year at this
time I share that I try not make my blog a “home movie” presentation. I
usually try not to use this blog just for my personal sharing (unless
there is some application for it), because most people don't really
enjoy “home movies” of other families. The one exception I make to that
is during the week of our wedding anniversary: So let me just state to
my precious wife what she means to me.
Michele,
As I look at the
picture above I am still amazed that you said “yes”. I am so glad the
Lord never allowed us to see what was in store for us, from health
issues to tough times in the ministry because I fear
that if He would have allowed us to see what was in store, you may have
chosen someone with a little less craziness. But through our 19 years,
we have grown up, I look much older, and you have grown more gracious
and beautiful to me. You have influenced our
boys from babies to now being young men by honoring our Lord first, and
me secondly with your kindness and grace that surpasses my dreams. When
I asked for your hand in marriage I was amazed that someone as
beautiful as you would be willing to spend your life
with someone like me. I know the Bible is clear that beauty fades, but
yours seems to grow more radiant with time. If our city had gates as
mentioned in Proverbs 31, I would be known at them because of you. You
have never preached a sermon, but you have exuded
patience and grace by loving the worse sinner I know, me. You have seen
me at my best and worst and you have loved me through both. Every year,
I intentionally refuse to read what I wrote to you the year before so I
will not get any “ideas” and what I write
to you will be new and fresh to me, but the truth is I am sure I have
repeated myself numerous times when talking about what I love about you,
because so many of them have remained consistent. Your faithfulness and
consistency is so much a part of your beauty. Our boys have a Dad who
loves them greatly and strives to lead them, however, they have a Mom
who exemplifies the character and grace of a woman whom they should
search for as a wife. I can sincerely pray that our boys meet someone
with the same qualities as
their mom.
I know that in the
past some blogs have been longer, probably more orderly and maybe even
more eloquent. But over the last 19 years you have nursed my body and
soul back to health. You have spoken truth to
me, you have listened to me complain, resign , rejoice and laugh
sometimes all in the same hour. But you have remained steady and
faithful. When I think about all the crazy things I did as a rebellious
teenager, and then as a young man who just never really
showed a lot of stability, it makes so much sense to me that God, in
all of His grace, gave me you. God has and still uses you in my life to
give wisdom, grace and stability.
Happy 19th—I am so blessed. I love you.
