22 days ago, Jim and I celebrated the anniversary of our engagement, which happened on October 19, 1991. On that evening in 1991, Jim hosted a surprise engagement party for me, and he proposed to me in the presence of our families and friends. (He must have known I would say “yes”!) We were married May 23, 1992.
Over the last 16 years, our love has grown, been tested, stretched, challenged, enriched and has blossomed even more. Jim is a man who loves the Truth, and he keeps me accountable as a Christian woman, for which I am so thankful. He listens with care and sincerity. He challenges me on heart issues. He’ll even ask me when necessary “what is your motivation?” Great question. He keeps my feet to the fire.
In the quietness and depths of my soul, I want to be that wife spoken about in Proverbs 31:11 “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” I desire to live an authentic life in our home to honor God first and then also, my husband.
Jim is not perfect. I am far from perfect. Of course our marriage is imperfect. Our pastor always says, “Marriage has three people in it, and only One of them is perfect.” “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecc. 4:2 The Perfect Third Strand has been our foundation. Jesus has been our Go-To Guy. He is our Center, our Redeemer. Even in moments of rebellion, He always brings us back to Himself. And I always am mindful that Jim was and is my brother in Christ first.
This week, I have been so blessed by Jim over and over. With my surgery on Tuesday, Jim planned to work from home the rest of the week. He planned that on his own. At first, I thought I’d be up and about right away (you hear those wonderful stories). But today was the first day I was able to do some “normal” activities. Jim would tell you I am pretty “low-maintenance” in general. However, these past several days, Jim made himself available to help me personally as I had post-surgical “high-maintenance syndrome”. And he took over some of my usual parental delights, such as driving the kids to and from school (since I couldn’t drive for a few days). If I needed help getting up, or needed fresh ice for my knee, or just wanted a glass of iced green tea, Jim was there. He lovingly tended to my post-surgery pain and “issues”. Occasionally, I had to flag him down while he was on a conference call for work, but he just muted his Blackberry and came to my rescue.
I love my husband and I honor him. I have genuine respect for him. Yes, I am sure our imperfect selves in our imperfect marriage will have more struggles and growth in the future. But we are anchored in the God who loves perfectly. And the love Jim has continually shown me over the years, and his “loving me in action and in truth” always and so much this week are such blessings of life for me. Jim, I love you and I honor you. Thank you for keeping true to Him and to our wedding song “I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman. I will be here, too, always.
When people ask me “What does Jim do for a living?”, I can give a pretty intelligible answer. Recently, the company he works for interviewed him for an Employee Profile. Here is a really great answer. Click Here: “My Man” at work…”A Minute With Jim Sloan”.
If you are married, tell us something you love about your hubby. If you are not married, tell us something we can pray for if you are praying for a husband.
“Marriage should be honored by all…”
Hebrews 13:4