Today is my lovely wife’s birthday! I thought I’d take some time to write a bit about why I love her, to “rise up an call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28), because after all:
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” (Proverbs 31:10 ESV)
One of the things I enjoy the most about my wife is her generous and giving nature. She has a very tender heart, and often quickly resolves to meet needs she encounters in the course of life, or finds a way to be a blessing to someone that could use it. A few weeks ago she and I were on a lunch date at the local Chili’s. After we were already seated and enjoying our appetizer, an older gentleman and his daughter were seated in the booth behind ours. We overheard the daughter mention in a cell phone conversation that her mother – the older gentleman’s wife – had died that day, and it also happened to be his birthday. Compassion filled my wife, and with very little thought she leaned over the table towards me and tells me that we should buy their meal. So we conspired with the waitress to cover their ticket when it was ready, and left anonymously when it was done, because my wonderful bride recognized that these folks needed some blessing that day. Of course this isn’t an isolated incident, and I’m genuinely privileged to be a part of it when it happens.
“She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” (Proverbs 31:20 ESV)
My wife is a very talented baker and cook. Not only do the boys and I get to enjoy her meals, but she often makes gifts of her baked goods, and enjoys surprising friends and neighbors with the occasional plate of snicker doodles or rolls made from old family recipes. There are many mornings where my wife is awake and bustling about before I am, sorting out the day and making sure the boys and I have nutritious lunches ready to take to work and school.
“She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household…” (Proverbs 31:15 ESV)
Along with some baked goods and wonderful canned pickles made from cucumbers grown in our family garden, you’ll often find my wife selling hand-crafted sewn goods during the summer months at the local farmers market… she especially enjoys making baby stuff like bibs and taggie blankets and onesies. It’s actually pretty remarkable to see how she puts in a full day’s effort trying to manage her household, making sure our boys and I are well taken care of, and then she spends many more hours working away in the kitchen our in her sewing room downstairs to get things ready to sell.
“She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.” (Proverbs 31:18–19 ESV)
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:27 ESV)
You see, my wife strives to be an excellent wife and mother, but like all of us sometimes feels like she falls short. She looks at these famous verses in Proverbs and desperately wants to become the woman she sees portrayed there… but she doesn’t realize how close she already is! Today I’m honored to celebrate her, to mark her birthday and remember all the ways she pours herself out in love and compassion. Today I rise up and call her blessed. Today I happily proclaim what a blessing she is to me and our family. She’s truly precious, and I gratefully thank our Creator for joining us together. Happy birthday, beloved!
Endikos
