Glory to God!

I had such a hard time going to sleep last night. After dozing off once, I awoke with a little girl's face in my mind's eye. My husband and I had met her a couple of weeks before at church. This little girl (about 9 or 10 years old) is always with her little brother, Matthew, and her grandparents at church. Little Matthew is a budding artist, drawing all during services as he sits next to his Grandma and Grandpa, which is what drew my husband's attention. We love to watch the children during services, because of the innocent and purity they radiate, but this little boy stood out because he shares my husband's passion for art. Once, after a trip to the bathroom, my husband had brought out some pictures he'd drawn of the Star Trek ship, Enterprise, and gave them to Matthew, which surprised and delighted him no end. They became fast friends, and the little girl was also naturally drawn to them to see what was going on. She put a request in to my husband for a drawing of a horse, which her little girl heart yearns for, and he promised her he would do so. He has been so jam-packed with work, home chores, and finding balance in our new relationship with the Lord, that he has yet to get to it. Last Easter Sunday he apologized to her and let her know he had not forgotten. She was so very sweet, and said she understood and that it was okay. I felt last night that God wanted me to remind my husband of his promise to her, so that he could follow through and get it ready for church services tonight.

Sometimes I feel that God really works through me to pick up the slack for my husband, so that he can focus on the larger issues that face us. It was such a small thing, but so large in the heart of that child. Small things to us can be so large to others, especially when they look to us to model the behavior Christ expects of all. I am so thankful for my husband's large heart and his willingness to give. He is an inspiration to me, and I work to show him the unconditional respect that scripture says his heart longs for. We are both learning about how God wants us to love and respect one another through Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' book, Love & Respect (The love she most desires; the respect he desperately needs). This book is a Godsend to couples, so I urge you all as my brothers and sisters to give this book a read, as it will change your outlook on life and bring you both closer to God and to one another through your conscious actions. Praise be to God for all his bounty!!