He Looks Mighty Good To Me

Last Thursday night Michael took me out to eat steak for my birthday. I drove in from North Richland Hills and met him at Waxahachie for a nice quiet dinner. The steak was delicious and the company was sweet as we caught up on the last couple of days. We didn't leave room for dessert, even though I was going to splurge and get the brownie thing to celebrate the day. We visited a while then decided to head home. We walked out the door, he kissed me good-bye, then walked toward his truck and I went the opposite way to the van. As I was unlocking the door I looked back and saw him walking off in those Cinch jeans. Made me smile. I love the way he looks in those jeans. They are great for his long legs and other things. Wink. He looked mighty good to me.

I got in the van and headed toward home and reflected over my last two days. I had been sitting with my Aunt Tommie in the hospital because she fell and broke her pelvis in four places. She also has been diagnosed with Alhzheimers, so she forgets she's broken and wants to get up out of the bed or wheelchair.

She knew who I was on Wednesday when I got there and we had such a good day. Only three or four spells of agitation because she didn't understand where she was. She told me the same story over and over most of the day. We went for "walks" in her wheelchair to the big window so we could look outside.

When I got there Thursday morning she was crying, trying to figure out what to do with her robe. When she saw me she said "Oh darlin, I thought you weren't ever going to get here." I put all my stuff down and pulled her to me and she just cried. Broke my heart. Thursday was not a good day. She stayed upset most of the day. The stories she told didn't make sense like they had the day before. I loved her more than I ever have.

In all of her confusion that day there was one story out of the whole day that did make sense. Only one. I asked her if she remembered the time my daddy was accidentally shot in the neck. They were at our house at the time and she stayed with us kids while mom and Uncle C.W. were with daddy at the hospital. She smiled and said "Oh yes I do. Darlin, let me tell you something about your daddy. He was one of the most gentle men I have every met in my life. He cared about people. Always kind. Not much got him upset. He was a good man." Clear as a bell. She said it. It was birthday gift from her to me and she didn't even know.

So as I was driving home, I realized why Noah stayed with Allie in the movie The Notebook. He didn't want to leave her there by herself at the home, 1) because if there ever was a moment of clarity he needed to be there so she would know he never left her and, 2) because in all the time when there is no clarity, there is often fear, and he needed to be there to get her through that. I understood completely. It's so hard to leave.

Michael has said from the time we first go together that he looked forward to us growing old together. He always says that he will take care of me. I know that he will and that if the shoe is on the other foot, I would do the same, with so much love. It wouldn't matter if he didn't always know who I was, or respond the way I wished. It wouldn't matter that the Cinch jeans may not look quite as good. It wouldn't even matter if the underwear was droopy in the backside. I know he will still look mighty good to me.

Ladies, Start Their Engines

If you haven't read the "I Do" post, scroll down about a third of the way and read through it. I was driving and praying this morning when my heart just felt so burdened over some marriages that I know are struggling. Showing respect to my husband is being obedient to the Lord. Period. So when I hear some of these stories I wonder why they just won't do it. Then I think about the times I know I don't need a second helping of dessert, but still poke it in fast so the disobedience doesn't last too long. It is all the same thing. Satan doesn't want us in God's will so he tempts us with whatever is our weakness.

I have a challenge for you. This isn't original, because as I was praying this morning, I heard a preacher on the radio telling about this. He said that respect is a man's "mother language". The illustration he gave was that if he was in a foreign country around people that only spoke a foreign language and someone said "the Boston Red Sox won the championship" in English, he would not only understand but feel an excitement because of being able to comprehend what was said. Sometimes we go on and on about life issues and our needs and it's as if we are speaking a foreign language to our husbands. They just don't understand. If, on the other hand, we say something that brings them honor or respect, it fills them with a sense of elation, because that is the language God programmed them to understand. Get it? So this is the challenge. Take a little while and think of two or three things that you really respect about your husband. I heard you moan. If you can't think of any go back to when you were dating or early marriage and remember what you used to see in him. If that doesn't work, pray! The Lord will help you because this is something He will smile about. Then when your sweet hubby walks in the door and sits in his easy chair, go over to him and say something like this: "I was thinking about you today. I was thinking about some of the reasons I respect you so much." Give him a kiss then walk out of the room. Don't stop because there is a good chance he will run into you. Watch his response. This isn't a game. It should become a way of life. When you show him respect, he feels love. You will find more and more things to respect. Then you reap the benefits. Just obey the Lord.