A Valentine Free Reminder of How Awesome My Wife Really Is

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things?

Mark Batterson, Wild Goose Chase

Aside from the birth of our first child, this last Sunday provided a moment when I was more proud of my wife than I’ve ever been. We’d stopped at the store, like we do every Sunday, to get donuts for my high school class. I left my family in the van so I could run in quickly, grab the frosted circles of goodness, and get out. I was feeling good because the place was actually pretty empty and I was making good time. Maybe I’d be early enough to play pool with a couple of my students before we needed to start class!

As I turned the corner to head to the parking lot, though, I noticed a lady struggling to control her sobbing in front of the soda machines. I’ll admit, I get a little cranky if the Mt. Dew gets stuck in the machine, but this was obviously not what was going on here. Actually, I had no idea what was wrong, or what I might be able to do to help. I knew it was none of my business, though and I had a class to teach soon. In all honesty, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t have “passed by on the other side of the road.” Except… I didn’t even have a chance to make that decision. As I thin-sliced my way through the situation, quickly processing things in order to decide what to do, I noticed a second girl that seemed to be standing by trying to comfort the distraught woman. It was the girl I began to love some 20 years ago – the girl I’d left in the van with our children. And in that moment, I was reminded of one of the thousands of reasons I’m so fortunate and thankful that God has put us together:

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He gave me a partner for life who’s not content to sit safely on the sidelines. She won’t just busy herself going to church ~ she’s been swept up by the Voice of God calling His people to be the church, and she’s willing to step into risk and discomfort to do hard things. She doesn’t just aspire to be the model church lady always saying and doing just the right, nice & polite things, but she pays attention when the Holy Spirit nudges her into awkward moments. In short, because my wife noticed someone crying in a parking lot and decided to step into whatever mess she may find, a few disciples were able to band together to offer a cup of cool water to a very thirsty soul Sunday. The hopeless caught a flicker of hope. A life abandoned to despair was given a glimpse of the healing joy that is possible when we’re adopted into the family of the King!

And a husband was reminded how awesome his wife is!

I’m grateful I got to see this group of ladies not content to be at church, but working to be the church. And I’m ecstatic that one of them decided as a 16 year old girl that she wanted to share my name for the rest of her life! It certainly wasn’t the safe and easy thing for her to do. I’m so glad God’s sent us together.

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