The Journey of a Lifetime

Hi Guys!

Well, today is a very special day at my house… it is my beloved hubby’s birthday! So today’s post is in his honor. We met in 1986 and have been slowly working our way toward greatness ever since. Neither of us were Christians when we first hooked up and those early years were pretty tumultuous, to say the very least. In 1994 Jesus grabbed hold of my guy and turned my world upside-down, and left me wondering if this relationship could last. Thankfully, my insecurities were short lived. One night as I watched my husband soaking up His Word I was struck by the sudden and amazing change in the man that I knew and deeply loved, and it was in that moment that I surrendered my life to Jesus! What a glorious time that was. The two of us on the journey of a lifetime and we were no longer alone. Now we had a Savior!

In the years that have followed I have been witness to many profound changes in my husband. But I think to best describe the transformation I can only describe it as this… a relationship with Jesus made a really good man a Really Great Man! Todd was always wise, hard working, thoughtful and kind. And with Jesus he is an even better version of all of those things, and so much more.

He is a wonderful husband, amazing lover, my biggest supporter & trusted companion. He is a great father, and a trusted friend. He is the real deal!

I share this little snippet because I think a lot of times men get it wrong because they look to the wrong places and the wrong people for validation and affirmation. I know that more than a few times my husband has gotten side-tracked by the influences of the world’s standard of success. But it is only when he looks to His Savior that he finds the solid affirmation that he needs. The true measure of himself is found first and foremost in his relationship with Jesus, and secondly in his relationship with me, then with our children, and lastly with his family and friends. And it is in those relationships that he is stretched to become everything God intended him to be.

Unfortunately, because he is a man, sometimes those relationships don’t seem to be an accurate measure of success. Rather, success takes on a different meaning. Looking through the world’s lens it becomes distorted. Career and finances become the measure. In those areas I fear that sometimes my husband feels like he has failed. In the past 2 years he has stepped out of full time paid ministry, and finances are as they have always been, just enough. Often times he feels like he’s missed it and has failed at this journey we call life. And I daresay he is not alone. Sadly, I think a lot of husbands feel this way. But, I tell you that if you have given time and energy to developing the MOST important things ~ Relationships ~ then you have not failed. You have in fact EXCELLED! Nothing you do in your career will ever trump the character you help to build and develop within others.

I love what the Message Bible says in Ephesians 5:25-28. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already “one” in marriage.

I love that – GO ALL OUT! If you are going all in loving your wife, and your children, and your Lord, then you truly, truly are a SUCCESS!

So, the next time you feel tempted to question your status as a man – look first to God’s word, then look to your wife. If there is any doubt about how you are doing, let this be your plumb line. Careers and finances come and go, but relationships should last a lifetime!

In honor of my amazing husband…