"My Husband…" By Nancy Alexander
As He Drives off in the Dark…
It is 5:50 am, early on this Thursday morning, as I wave and blow kisses to my Steve as he drives out our driveway in the dark. My heart is full knowing that this man who has to be at work at 7 am, after a 45 minute drive, gets up this early to attend a Bible study before the long drive ahead of him.
I woke up with Steve this morning at 4:30 (which is sort of hard — as you might imagine). Actually it takes 2 alarms on the clock, and my iPhone singing "It's a Beautiful Morning," to make us roll out each side of the bed after five quick kisses — yes, it has to be exactly five!
I know…you're saying 4:30 am?? Yes, that's right! You got it! Well, actually it isn't 4:30 every single morning of the week. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, it is 5:15 — we actually get to sleep in on those days. And…I'm sure you're saying…you don't "really" have to get up that early with your husband, do you? Well, no, I don't. But I will, no matter what, for as long as I am able, or until God decides my time on this earth is over. I know how blessed I am, and I will never take that for granted.
So, this morning, I got up with Steve, showered, dressed, fixed my hair, and put on my makeup. A pot of coffee was already brewing in the kitchen with inviting smells seeping throughout the entire house. His breakfast and lunch were stacked nicely in the fridge ready to be tucked into a well used lunch bag. As I packed this bag and fixed coffee in a travel mug, Steve sat down a second to take his supplements with O.J.
Then we were off to our regular spot in our office. As we're running just a little late this morning, Steve picks up "Jesus Calling", instead of our regular devotional book, "Quiet Times for Couples", which takes a little longer. Each devotional, each and every morning seems as if it were ordered up by God just for us on that particular day, as it always seems to address something going on in our lives. Some days, to our amazement, our morning devotional repeats or delves more deeply into the theme or subject of our night-time devotional. This always amazes us, because they are from two separate books, by two separate authors, and we are not even on the exact day that each says that particular devotional should be read. We then turn, facing each other and hold hands, as we both pray for family, each other, friends who are facing devastating illnesses, and the amazing business God has blessed us with.
You're probably thinking by now — either you're the perfect married couple, or a little crazy! Well, no, it is neither! You see, we haven't always done this. Our life now is different than the life we lived for almost 40 years as a married couple. There were MANY trials, and with my chronic illnesses of Celiac and Fibromyalgia going undiagnosed for almost 30 years, there was more stress, separation, and loneliness in our marriage than I will talk about here.
I am writing this today, because as I watched my Steve drive off in the dark to a Bible Study which starts at 6 am, I was overcome with gratefulness for God's goodness — for His undying love for us — and the knowledge that He created us and He saved us! He saved our marriage! He is now and forever at the center of our lives! My heart is overflowing today with these blessings from above and the thoughts that God never gave up on us as we broke under the pressure and strayed to places we wish we had never been.
Here is a prayer that I wrote about my husband I found it this morning dated 3/25/08.
"Lord, I have learned today that to become the wife of my husband's dreams begins with prayer. I want to be his prayer warrior lifting him up in prayer on a daily basis bringing his work, his life, and any problems he may have to You on a consistent basis. Help me to be persistent in my prayers for Steve by lovingly and willingly taking the time throughout my day to bring him to You.
By your Grace, I pray that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit by giving me strength in trials and to love Steve as you would have me love him — till death do us part. I need to be loved and cherished by him and to give him the honor and respect he needs as the spiritual leader of our home. I want to honor him, to love him, and to be aware of each and every one of his needs.
Lord, I pray that you will be with me as I make sure to pay close attention to his needs, desires, dreams, joys, and sorrows. I want to look closely into his heart because I absolutely adore him.
I thank you so much Lord, that we can both feel your strong hands shaping and molding each of us into the partner that we each need and want. I can feel your miracles as you are softening our hearts.
Help me, Lord to keep a record of NO WRONGS, either written or in my heart. Be my guide in erasing these images and records from my heart and my soul. I thank you that you have honored me with the gift of forgiveness. I ask your blessings on Steve each and every day of his life.
I truly want to protect our marriage, Lord and grow our love to heights that neither of us can possible imagine."
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose."
Have a wonderful day my love! I'll see you tonight, as you drive back home to me…to us!
~Your Laney~
