Happy Birthday!

Tomorrow is my wife's birthday, and as I am due for a blog post I thought, " What a great subject for this month's post, Charity." In my daily devotions I have been writing out the entire book of Proverbs. This week, fittingly, i will be finishing up on chapter 31. Chapter 31 of Proverbs is all about a Woman who Fears the Lord. Gad has used it not only how to choose a wife but to show me how blessed I truly am. As I learn more about my wife and who she is I begin to see what God sees, a beautiful woman.
Looking back at when I was praying about marrying Charity and reading this passage, I realize I had no idea that such character existed in her, but God did I am so grateful. Now as I have been married to this woman for four years this June (praise Him!) I have learned more of who she is and the beauty that God sees in her.

Prov. 31:15 "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens."

Every morning for the past three years Charity has woken up to make me my lunch for the day. Almost everyday, there might be fifteen days in three years that she hasn't, she puts a not in my lunch letting me know she is praying for me.

Prov. 31:25-27

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.

We are by no means rich, and actually by the standards of the county we are poor. We have decided that Charity would not work while we have young kids. Instead Charity spends everyday working as a homemaker, and she has made it warm and inviting and a pleasure to come home, even when we have lived in some ghetto places(Grass Valley). She is constantly looking for ways to better serve our family. If she is not making yogurt, or granola bars, or bread, she is sewing something for Sam using one of my old shirt. If she is not doing those things she is researching how to eat more healthy (she does a lot of research), or where to get the best deal on borax for her home made laundry soap. 

I cant say enough about my wife so I will end with this.

Prov. 31: 28-29

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”

Happy Birthday Charity!

February 24, 2011

I recently listened to the entire audio book series of Harry Potter, drove my wife crazy, I'm sure, for a month.  In listening to Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince, Harry falls in love with a girl, and his thoughts and actions in that book got me thinking, "How am I my wife's hero?" I quickly became discouraged because I will never be able to defend my wife against Voldamort. I most likely never have to get in a fist fight to defend her honor. I started thinking how can I be my wife's Humdrum or Everyday Champion. In what ways can I make a stand for my wife. In what ways can i make her know that she is everything to me.
Most of us men do not fight the forces of evil, "the bad guys", on a daily basis. For me I fight the battle of sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen and not falling asleep. Most of our wives are rarely in mortal danger. None of us will be able to ride in a valiant steed in shinning armor to our wives rescue. No there are rarely those occasions to be a hero for our wives the way story books and movies portray heroes.
Even though my wife may never need to be physically rescued, I can assisted her in her spiritual fight, I can intercede for her on a daily basis so that God, her True Champion, is protecting her spirit though out the day. Through prayer and Jesus I can deliver a devastating blow to the enemy.
Praying for my wife not only puts me in my place in relying on God, but it also allows me to find out things I my never know about my wife. It gives me a chance to see her struggles and strengths. Through those times of prayer God, My Champion, allows opportunities for me to encourage my wife and build her up. Through Jesus I become her Humdrum Champion.