A Love Like HIS

It was 19 years ago today that I counted down the hours to become Mrs. Bailey.  As excited as I was I could not even begin to fathom how my life was about to change. I knew it would be filled with humor, fun and friendship, but I had no idea that it would be filled with the most gentle, refining, life changing hardcore love.  Sure, marriage has its challenges and ours has been no different.  However, those challenges are meant to serve a purpose and I had a great man who taught me just that.  He loved me like Christ loves His bride.  Always has and I am confident he always will. He shows me scripture.

 

When I was so mean and angry for the first several years he showed me grace and forgiveness.  He loved me.

When I was pregnant and sick with IV’s stuck in my arm for many months at a time, every.single.pregnancy, he cared for me.  He cleaned me up, he held my hair back, and he took care of me in ways I never dreamt I would need to be taken care of. He loved me.

When I was flustered and emotionally out of control raising three little girls, he calmed me.  He stepped in, he bathed our kids, and he sang to them and read to them and could take care of their needs without an ounce of my help.  He loved me.

When I was exhausted, he vacuumed, he did the dishes, he folded laundry and he never said a word about a messy house.  He loved me.

When my entire past caught up with me and I completely fell apart needing years to regain what was lost and repair what was damaged, he sat with me.  No matter how late it was, no matter how early he had to wake up, he still sat there and held me.  He was patient guide out of the darkness and he was my soft place to fall.  He loved me.

When I worked and missed my children he provided and allowed me to be the stay at home mom I always dreamt of being.  He worked, he delivered flowers, he delivered phone books, he did whatever was necessary to provide so my heart could be fulfilled. He loved me.

When our future was scary and his good paying job was no more, he led us.  He moved our family despite his fears and worries and I knew no matter what, we would be okay simply because of his presence and the strength that was in it.  He loved me.

When I was riddled with fear in the next phases God was calling me to, He encouraged me.  He was always my number one fan cheering me on.  He gave me reason to overcome.  He loved me.

When I cried at every first and last day of school and loose tooth or first dance, he simply held my hand and listened.  He always allowed me to go down memory lane. He loved me.

When I was injured and overcome with disabling ailments and injuries he once again took care of me.  He rubbed my aches, soothed my pain, again at all hours of the day and night.  He loved me.

When I fell apart when our daughter went off to college, he told me I was a wonderful mom.  He assured me of her need for me still.  He loved me.

When I was overcome with sadness and joy when that same said daughter got married, his love for her during her entire life assured me that her husband would love her like he did.  He loved me.

And now as I have two more daughters almost out the door and knowing that our home will soon become less filled with noise, he assures me of his need for me too.  He shows me his need to be my best friend, to laugh with, to play with and to one day travel with, all while changing the world.  This man has shown me Jesus like no other and he shows me that our lives together are only just at the beginning.  Our journey together has taken me through the lowest valleys and the highest mountains and I am so grateful for the love of my husband. And for the love he has for his Savior.  God is the glue in our marriage.  He is the steadfast rock that has allowed my husband to be all of those things.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this man will always love me, if for no other reason than because the God he loves so dearly has commanded him to and He has formed a covenant between us that my husband will not allow to be broken. And that is how he loved me and loves me still.

Forever holding your hand and walking by your side,

Happy Anniversary to my most precious gift, Christopher. I love you!