Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day, Darling

I sit here with a sick toddler on my lap and a load of poopy clothes in the washing machine as she watches cartoons.  My husband is upstairs asleep after getting home at 2 a.m.  He will awaken in an hour to get ready for work once again not getting home until 10 p.m. tonight.

And this is our Valentine's Day.
And I am filled with joy that this is our Valentine's Day.

There was a time when I would have been upset that I didn't awaken to a card, flowers and chocolates.  There was a time when I measured how much he loved me on what he got for me on this day.  And maybe I still do feel loved based on his actions...but it's different now.

Maybe it's because I'm a mother now and God has taught me so much about my own selfishness. Maybe it's because difficult times have put priorities in perspective.

Or, maybe it's just God working in me.

Today, I feel loved by my husband, because he works so hard to provide for our family.  He loves his daughter, and our beautiful daughter to arrive in a few months, so much that he never gets a good night's sleep.  And even after an 11 hour shift, he stops by Wal-Mart to get our sick little angel some Pedialyte.

Today, I know I am loved by him, because he doesn't quit when times are not ideal.  When we don't have a lot of money in the bank, when sickness, disappointment and let downs have beset our family the past year; he keeps loving us.
He keeps loving me by being the leader our family needs.  He directs us to focus our attention on who God really is--His love demonstrated on the cross, his grace given every day and his never changing state.

This Valentine's Day, my husband Eric, has given me the best gift of all.  The gift of himself.  He is truly my dream come true.  I see that more now after 8 years of being together than I ever did before.

He is my best friend.  My rock.  He is, now and always, my Valentine.

I love you, Eric.