Be Bold!

Good Wednesday to you friends :)

Just a bit ago I received a text from my hubby that said, "Praying for you."

There is probably nothing that Tom does for me that means more than praying for me.

That wasn't just a random text.  That was a reminder that he heard what I conveyed through a text to him last night.

I am going to a pretty big check-up today to see how all the surgery stuff is coming along.  Ever since my surgery in July, I've been dealing with some anxiety attacks when I go into doctor offices.

It doesn't matter how much I tell myself everything is okay and to calm down.  My body just physically has been responding with shaking and sweating and my heart races.

Tom has been with me and witnessed this, so when I sent the text last night before bed to pray for me as I go to the doctor tomorrow, he didn't just respond with, "ok" or "I will."  He responded with an actual prayer that I could read.

Then today, as he is in another state with work that is probably consuming his brain, he took the time to stop and text me that he is praying for me.  Right then and as I go...and as he works...

I don't know that I can even express why this means so much to me. Of course we all like to know we are thought about during someone's day and that we mean enough that they would stop just to let us know, but what this makes me feel is beyond that.

There is just something so sweet to my soul that I experience when Tom prays for me.  To me, when he lays his hand upon me and calls out to the God of the universe on my behalf, allowing me to hear his inward thoughts, I don't know...it's just so intimate to me...more than anything else.

Hearing Tom pray fills me with hope, peace, and security.  

I really enjoy when he surprises me with a gift that he remembers I mentioned I would like.  I love when, even though he is tired himself, he will clean up the kitchen after I've cooked or just had a long day.  But, when he prays over me, it just blesses me in ways like nothing else can.

Maybe it's because the position of prayer to God is so vulnerable. Maybe it's because men don't often easily let us hear what they feel. Maybe it's just because it makes me feel like I'm pretty special to him that he will take the time to go to God on my behalf.

All I know is that it is like the best gift...the best kiss...the sweetest surprise...all rolled into one and my soul feels like it is bursting with love.

I remember a time when Tom told me it was hard for him to pray with me because I love to pray and he thinks I do it "better" than him.  Of course, that made me chuckle, but it was a real roadblock for him.  After I explained how his praying over me made me feel, he began to do it more and more.

So, today, I challenge you to take the time to push past awkward, throw off self-consciousness, and let your spouse hear you cry out to God on their behalf.  

I truly believe this is one of the most powerful things a husband and wife can do together to bring unity in their marriage...which extends to their family, friends, church, community...

Be bold today! 

A Matter of Choice

On Sunday afternoon, my husband and I entered into a discussion while out driving.  It didn't last all that long, but it sure accomplished much for my heart and hopefully for his as well.  It brought understanding and showed us how to pray for one another.

I had to say some things that I wasn't sure he would take well.  I mean, I always know that I'm blessed with a man who listens more than he talks...who seeks to understand me...who thinks before he speaks (sometimes so long that I wanna smack him! :)...who truly wants to do what is best for others and himself.

But, even after 20 years of being together, I still get nervous to say things sometimes.  I wonder if he does too.

I wasn't always good at just coming forth and saying what I was thinking or feeling.  From past experiences, I was afraid of rejection or attack and trapped in insecurity.  Wow, when I think back on how much easier our marriage relationship would have been if I could have communicated better!

It's been a lot of work to get to where we are.  Well, more like a lot of choices.  I've been speaking to some women and girls lately about just pushing past what feels awkward and choosing to do what needs done.

If we could all get to a place where we could speak the truth in love with one another!  Shew...can you even imagine how much better life would be?

That in love phrase is the kicker part though, isn't it?  

Many of us, if we can be brave enough to speak up, usually don't do it "in love."  It is usually in haste or disgust or frustration...

I found myself wondering today how different the drive Sunday with my sweetheart would have been if either of us hadn't chosen to speak in love.

I bet we wouldn't have come to the realizations and resolutions we did.  I bet one of us would have cried.  (Of course I mean Tom!)  I bet our kids would have felt that sick-to-your-stomach feeling I always felt (and still feel when people get ugly with each other).

How much different would our home be if we hadn't taken the time to learn what we have from leaders and books and friends and each other???

I look around me and see so many people in turmoil.  

I see men who look like they are brooding and angry at the world, dreading to walk into their home each night.

I see women with pursed lips and glaring eyes and hear their mumbling under their breath toward their husbands.

I see children who look like they are holding back tears and scared to utter a word or do something wrong...like they have to walk on eggshells all the time so they don't play a part in rocking the boat.

My husband and I aren't amazing people.  We aren't doing anything that others can't do.  We just chose to learn how to handle ourselves differently.  Then we chose to humble ourselves and walk out what we learned.

Sure we mess up.  We certainly don't always agree.  We just love each other and our children enough to stay determined to have a happy home.  

No matter what that takes or how we have to crucify our selfishness, we are resolute in this stand for our family.

Some things really are a matter of choice.