Celebrating My Wife

Proverbs 18:22, "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD." I enjoy reading this verse in the New Living Translation. Most translations read "a good thing" rather than "a treasure". If you know my wife, then you'll understand why I chose these words.

My wife is celebrating a birthday today. And as I think about what this new year holds for her/us, I'm overwhelmed by the past 17 years together. This proverb holds true in my marriage because I have been willing to discover the treasure that lives within my own house.

A treasure of love...
Over the last few years, my wife and I have come to realize the importance of love. Love is so much more than an emotion. The fact is that we haven't always felt the love but we have always been willing to live in love toward one another. The Bible tells us that "love covers a multitude of sins." It also covers a multitude of faults and problems. I'm grateful for the love that Jenn has demonstrated in our lives. We are learning more and more what it means to live in unconditional love.

A treasure of joy...
We absolutely love laughter in our home. I enjoy seeing my wife smile. We do what we can to enjoy life together. I have come to a place in my life where I love to introduce my wife to people. She has the ability to bring joy and encouragement to others. For a lack of better words, she is the bright spot in our family. The joy of the Lord is her strength and we get to bask in the glow of it.

A treasure of friendship...
I share everything with my wife. There is no one in this world that knows me better than she does. We do as much together as possible. We still hold hands in public, speak our love to one another, and share those intimate glances and smiles. My wife has become in the words of Forrest Gump, "My best good friend."

While there are plenty of other things I could write about, I want to say that where we are now hasn't always been this way. We endured the struggles of learning to be married. We have gone through the senseless arguments and tough times. But we chose to endure the difficulties and find a way to enjoy our life together. By the way...this is what we promised we would do.
In sickness and in health
In adversity and prosperity
And to be true and loyal to one another as long as we both shall live.

I am not ashamed to live out Proverbs 5:18, "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." I also want to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to the most incredible woman I know. I have truly found a treasure in my life and favor from God.