Because you are willing

There are the sounds of pots and silverware being put away.  

A sliding sound, which I think is the cutting board, and then chopping.  Sizzling sound follow with the refrigerator opening and closing.

Later I hear the dishwasher running.  Shortly after I am given a delicious meal. 

And the kitchen is clean.  

What an amazing husband.  Even just today he has made me breakfast, lunch, snack, fruit, and supper.  I haven't helped.  I've laid on the couch and felt nauseated and extremely grateful.  

There are things I did not think of when I got married.  I did not think about being sick for months on end and pregnant.  I did not imagine I would be so dependent on others.  But here I am.  



(Hungry and tired...but more tired than hungry.)

And here is this man I married.  Cleaning the house.  Cooking meals.  Showing me love over and over again.

However, there are things I did think of before I got married.  I thought of what the character of the man I would marry.  Did he love Jesus?  Was he a servant leader?  At our wedding we washed each other's feet as a symbol of lifetime service of love to each other, following Jesus' example.



Each day he washes my feet symbolically as he serves me and our child.  Our son.  

One day I was sharing how I felt not as pretty and attractive because of the change in my body and the next day he wrote this:





















(I created this frame for us and we wipe off what goes after "Our marriage is" and change it every now and then.)

He continues to amaze me.  I count him as multiple blessing each day.  

Even at night he serves me.  I have been going to bed very early and I don't like to go to bed alone.  So I ask him to come with me and he does.  He rubs my back and reads to me each night to help me relax to fall asleep and then once I'm asleep he will do homework or whatever else in bed so I can have him near me.

In the mornings if he can see that it is a rough morning he will read devotions to me.  Taking the initiative as the spiritual leader to help me when I'm too nauseated or tired to read myself.  

Today at church Matthew, my wonderful husband, was ordained as an elder.  He and I had prayed about him accepting being an elder when he was first asked, and we felt God leading there so he accepted.  

Today as I watched him go up and be prayed over I could not have been more filled with joy and pride.  There was a man that has served me selflessly, day and night, and not complained.  

"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."

1 Peter 5:1-4

These verses in Peter make me think of Matthew.  Not only because he is an ordained elder, but because he has been a shepherd to myself and our son and we are truly under his care--not because he must take care of us--but because he is willing, as God wants him to be.

I know that he will shepherd those God has given him to shepherd with the same care and selflessness that he has shown me. 

I am blessed beyond measure to be his wife and I pray that I will be a blessing back to him.  

Thank You God, for my husband, Matthew.