If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

I am a far cry from a perfect wife. There are ways I have behaved that I never thought I would; attitudes of disrespect that I have portrayed that should have never even crossed my mind. But despite all my sin, God has been so gracious to give me a wealth of love and respect for my husband and further gracious to give me a husband who is as worthy as any man could ever be to have it.

I don't know if Daryl will ever even read this blog, but I'm writing it anyways because it burns within me and that often means it needs to be said (or in this case, written).

Ephesians 5:25-30 says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourished and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body."

This is a familiar passage but one that is rarely (not so rare among my friends), but rarely still, acted upon. Many husbands may "love" their wives by treating them to dinners out, saying sweet things to them, or holding their hands in public, but I am amazed at my husband's faithfulness to not only love me and give his desires up for me (trading Xbox for emptying trashes, staying up late for coming to bed with me, a relaxing weekend at home for grocery shopping and serving at a leadership retreat, etc, etc), but he, so much like Christ, is ever faithful to speak the word to me in due time in the hopes to help me further become holy and without blemish (God had to give me a man good at this, as I am a piece of work for sure! :) )

Anyways, I just wanted to publicly commend my husband for being so faithful to speak the truth to me in love. He is so generous and kind towards me and surely it would be unkind for him to leave me in a sinful state as that never produces the life God intends for us to have for His glory or our joy. I am so thankful that when my heart is sad or angry or heavy that Daryl asks to pray with me - or for me if I have no energy or words - and so thankful that he consistently points me to trust in God and His ways and to abide in Christ.

There is no perfect man outside of Christ, and my husband knows this and so gets his counsel from Christ and takes me to Him for further assistance :) I am so grateful.

And as I am sure my husband hopes too, I am sure that his faithfulness to "wash me with the word" will over time make me less and less blemished and what a glorious thing that will be for us all! So if you see good in me, thank God first, and then thank Daryl for being a vessel the Lord can count on to scrub the roughness out of me!

Finally, single ladies....Josh McDowell has said that what you are as a single person you will be as a married person. This is true in some regards although I really do believe you change very much in marriage if you are both pursuing Christ - there is no way not to. However, this change takes time and a deep commitment to Christ. Please don't marry a man that is not pursuing God as a consistent pattern of his life. It is never worth it no matter how funny, attractive, charming, wealthy, etc that he is. Marry a man who abides in Christ - then you will have a life giving marriage and one that you are not ashamed to showcase before the world or regretful of before the throne of grace.

Thanks be to God for great things He has done.