It’s Valentine’s Day!
A season where chocolates and flowers are lavishly showered upon women
all across the nation.
But ladies, this year I propose we turn the tables
and acknowledge the
men. Those husbands and fathers who
faithfully and sacrificially serve our families day after day with precious
little fanfare.
In this context I offer up a simple, yet heart-felt little sonnet. It flowed from my heart recently after re-reading the inspired Word of God penned by Solomon in the latter half of Proverbs 31; my humble treatise below attempts to parallel that Scriptural powerhouse verse by verse. On this day of love, may I take this opportunity to introduce you
to the tall, dark and handsome man who won my
heart 28 years ago? And in doing so, I hope you are inspired to pay
tribute to the unsung hero in your life as well. (And, yes - every scenario below is true.)
The Husband of Noble
Character
1 Wow…where in the world can
you find a husband with noble character any more!? He is worth far more than any diamond ring on a woman’s
finger.
2 His wife has full
confidence in his fidelity and lacks nothing of true value.
3 He speaks fondly of her
in front of his friends, and never betrays her confidence when he’s out in
public.
4 He finds killer deals on
car parts, and then labors in the driveway all afternoon until those squeaky
brakes are fixed.
5 He’s like the FedEx
truck, driving clear across town to get the best deal at Home Depot.
6 He dons his work gear at
2 am and climbs up on the roof because the wind has kicked up, and the plastic
sheeting which was supposed to prevent the leak just ripped loose.
7 He negotiates a fair
price to purchase a used car for his daughter who’s heading off to college; and
with the money he saves, fixes up the family car for his son.
8 Without a second thought,
he scrambles out the door to rescue a stranded family member in an automotive
emergency – from the engine that stalls in a flooded roundabout, to the timing
belt that quits alongside the I-25 freeway at midnight. And believe me -- his arms can easily
lift that tire at the side of the road!
9 He tracks
the ever-changing value of silver and gold, and saves up to place a tiny order when
the price is just right; and speaking of finances -- he stays up late to help
his wife pay the bills.
10 In his hand he holds
the wrench and grasps the greasy bolt with his fingers.
11 He opens his heart to the
overlooked soul at the nursing home, and even listens to the talkative stranger
next to him on the airplane (instead of pretending to fall asleep like the rest
of us would!)
12 When it snows, the wood
pile is stocked, and when that runs out, he’s got kerosene for the portable
heater - just to make sure his family won’t freeze.
13He installs the
upholstery on his ’66 Mustang himself; in the winter he drives a used, but clean
little Ranger truck.
14 His wife is secure in
her ministry where she is free to blossom because of his tender care.
15 He drafts contours for
underneath city streets, and supplies the developers with a precise set of plans.
16 He carries himself with
quiet strength, and smiles when he thinks about growing old with his wife.
17 He speaks with wisdom,
and trains his children to always love one another, and the Lord above all.
18 He’s aware of “who needs
what” in his family, and works 9-10 hour days to provide for them.
19 The older his daughter and
sons grow, the more they recognize what an incredible Dad they’ve got; his
wife, too, is incredibly proud to bear his name!
20 She says, “Lots of
dynamic speakers and authors pass through the Family Talk office, but you stand
head and shoulders above them all!”
21 Political charisma comes and goes, and athletic prowess is fleeting, but the man who is honorable and full of
integrity in his home -- where it really counts -- is to be respected.
22 It’s time to honor him
for decades of godly character, and let his years of quiet steadiness be acknowledged
publicly in the blogosphere.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Steve. I love you!
Yours always,
GIRL: "Josh, stop it!"
