Thankful Thursday - The Best Husband in the Whole, Wide World

                                                

So much to be thankful for this week. . . His blessings are abundant.  Most of all, I'm thankful for my sweet husband, whose birthday is today.  How could I not be happy with a husband who:

gets up early to have morning tea ready for his groggy, foggy wife,

greets me every morning with, "Good Morning, Gorgeous!"

tells me how much he loves me many, many times a day,

prays with me and for me,

alway, always tells me, "That was a delicious meal!"  This no matter if it was a can of soup.I'll say, "All I did was open the can."  To which he replies, "But you do it so well!"

washes the dishes after the meal. I always hug him and say, "I love a man with dishpan hands."  He likes that.

built a beautiful pond and garden for me to enjoy during my morning quiet time,

keeps the Golden Cottage landscape and garden looking like a magazine,

loves and tenderly cares for our pets and any strays that come by the Golden Cottage,

loves me, protects me, counsels me, and always has my best interest at heart,

is always kind, caring, humble, generous, and always thinks the best of me,

makes me laugh every day.

These are just a few of the things he does for me.

He's first and foremost, a family man who:  

loves my children as if they were his own.

places family time and get-togethers as a priority.

goes out of his way to help our daughters and their spouses even if it inconveniences him.  I'll never forget the time he had the flu but went out in the freezing rain to feed their dogs. . . because he said he would.  Or when our daughter said, "Come, I need your help,"  he dropped everything and drove two and a half hours to meet that need.

is the best grandfather in the whole, wide world.

As a rabbi, he:

is a mensch, a Yiddish term, meaning a fine, upstanding man,

lives what he teaches,

is honest,

has pure integrity and a stellar character,

has a pure heart,

turns his eyes away from evil, including scantily clad women on the TV, or in public. I admire that so much.

makes us laugh.

is completely committed to his calling as a teacher of Torah, and to leading his congregation in observance of G-d's commandments.  In all of his years of our ministry, he has never missed a service due to sickness.  He's been sick.  He's been in pain.  He's never given in to it.

preaches with his life.  You won't find him pounding the Bible over people's heads.  He lives the Bible in his everyday life, always with a desire to point others to G-d,

is always looking around him to see if someone needs help.  His name should be Jem Good Deeds Golden.  If he's running late, he'll still stop to help someone in need.  (He very rarely runs late.  If he does, it's usually because of me.)

is a people person who relates to the young as well as the old,

is disciplined in all areas of his life and ministry.

Jem is a military veteran who served in both the Navy and the Army.  He did two tours in Viet Nam and received many medals, including the Purple Heart.  He is my hero.

 He is a passionate patriot who loves his country.  No matter how dark things look on the "propaganda show" (aka the network news), he chuckles and tells me not to worry.  He believes in America, and in the American spirit that he assures me is alive and well.   He inspires patriotism in all who know him.

He works to support men and women who love America and will do whatever he cn to keep America from going down the tubes.  He is not afraid to talk about politics in his teaching at the synagogue and refuses to be politically correct.  I love and admire him for his firm stand on the things that are vital, to keeping America great.

Is he perfect?  Pretty close, but when he does something I don't like, I always ask myself, "How important is it?"  Usually, I can just let it go.  But if it's important, he always listens to my side and is open to making a change if needed.  Just one more thing I love about him.

I am so thankful for him.  I often ask him, "How did I get so blessed to be your wife?" He always replies, "You said, 'yes.'"  I'm so glad I did.

Here's another post I wrote about the love of my life:  Listening To My Husband

What are you thankful for about your husband?

~~~~~


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Wisdom Wednesday - Listening To My Husband

On our wedding day

This post is part of series about my word for 2015, which is

Listen

As I wrote before, G-d told me to listen to His Word, His Voice, my husband, my spirit, my body, and to others.  In this post, I'll be talking about listening to my husband.

Jem and I will celebrate nine years of marriage in just a few months.  He is an amazing person, an inspiring teacher (my own personal rabbi), my dearest friend, and the best husband in the whole world.  Unless you have lived with someone who lives every one of the virtues listed in I Corinthians 13, you won't know what I mean when I say, "He is the perfect example of LOVE". 

He is patient with me and others, especially small children, the elderly, and animals.

He is kind -- more than anyone I've ever known.

He is not jealous, even when a man flirted with me recently, while Jem was sitting right there with us. (Imagine someone flirting with me, at 60+ years old.)  Jem said later, "The guy has good taste.  You're a beautiful woman."

He is not boastful, especially about G-d.  His favorite saying is, "A rabbi who praises himself has a congregation of one." I've been around a great many people who talk about G-d, but he's the only one I've ever seen who actually lived it out twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

He is not proud.  I've never known anyone so humble.  He is always willing to do the lowliest job.  He has the heart of a servant and is always looking around for someone to help.

He is never rude.  He is a fine, Southern gentleman, and rudeness is frowned upon by their kind.

He is never selfish. He is always looking out for my good.  Always looking for something he can help me with, or do that will make me smile.

He is not easily angered.  This is especially appreciated.  He is always self-controlled.  The only thing that angers him is the perversion of the Torah.  That he cannot abide.  He is like Yeshua in that.

He never keeps a record of my wrongs. This surprised me, as I have known many people who hold grudges.  Not him.  He doesn't punish with silence or aloofness, either.  We discuss things and move on.

He does not gloat over other people’s sins.  He is deeply saddened by them.  Heartbroken, and always willing to forgive and restore.

He takes delight in the truth.  He is happiest when teaching Torah

He always bears up in all things.  With the challenges associated with my mother's illness over the last three years, he has been my rock. I know I can lean on his strength.

He always trusts in G-d, and he always trusts me. 

He always speaks hope to me.  When I am sad or overwhelmed, he leads me through and encourages me.

He always endures.  He always keeps going even when I know he is exhausted.

I have to admit it - I'm bragging.  I'm proud to be his wife.  I'm blessed.  How could I not listen to someone who loves me like that? Here is a recent example:

Last week was difficult with my mother.  Her dementia is advancing and she has become increasingly angry and even combative at times.  We went to visit her at the nursing home, and she was extremely abusive that day.  I've endured this for the last three years, but it has grown worse lately.  I know it's part of the disease, but it's just heartbreaking and takes a toll on me.  I was especially weary this particular day.  As we were leaving the nursing home, I started crying and verbally beating myself up.

My dear sweet husband, who never raises his voice to me, said loudly, "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"

I can't tell you how shocked I was that he raised his voice.  I know my mouth was standing open in disbelief.  At first, I was angry and I wanted to shout back at him.  I held my tongue and stood still for a minute to compose myself.

He looked in my eyes and said softly, "You are a wonderful woman, a loving, caring daughter, and you have gone above and beyond to love, honor, respect and care for your mother. You are not to talk to yourself that way."

Then, I heard G-d say, "Listen to your husband.  He is your advocate against satan."  And I knew it was true.  Just as I am my mother's advocate at the nursing home,  Jem was watching out for my care.  He could see that I was under attack, and he fought the enemy for me. 

That, my dear Gail-Friends, is love and better than any gift he could ever give me.  I am blessed.  I must say once again, how could I not LISTEN to someone who loves me with a I Corinthians 13 kind of love?


I listen first thing in the morning when he says, "Good Morning, Gorgeous."

I listen when he tells me he loves me several times a day, every day.


I listen when he calls me "My Lady" and tells me how beautiful I am.

I listen when he tells me to rest, because I'm over extending myself.

I listen when he says, "I'll do the dishes."

I listen when he says, "It's Pampered Princess day.  What would you like for breakfast?"

I know how blessed I am, because my past experience with marriage was not like this.  I'm so glad I said "yes" when Jem proposed to me.  Fear could have held me back, but I listened to G-d instead of fear.  

***********
Sharing this post with:

Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday

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Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays

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Friendship Friday  

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Wisdom Wednesday #7 - A Good Man

Our study of Proverbs 31 brings us to this verse:

נ ²³ Her husband is known at the city gates
        when he sits with the leaders of the land.

How, we may ask, does this apply to a woman today?  We learn from this verse that this woman's husband is respected and he is wise.   He has a good reputation, and associates with other wise men.  

Selecting a husband is so important because G-d wants us to stay married forever.  He will lead a single woman to the man He wants for her...if she will seek His wisdom.  

Because I married at age 17, a week after graduating from high school, and because I did not seek G-d's wisdom, that marriage was not a good one, and ended in divorce.  Unfortunately, I married again, and it ended in divorce also.  Can you imagine how I felt with two divorces behind me?  

G-d hates divorce, and I hate it, too. Unfortunately, I did not know how to recognize a "good" man...a wise man.  I was fond of saying, "Marriage is like having your teeth drilled without Novocaine."  I determined that I was incapable of being married, and resigned myself to life as a single woman.  I never intended to marry again.  

I didn't date.  All I did was work at my job and study the Bible.  I spent hours alone with G-d, seeking His face and wisdom, worshiping Him, and listening to Him.  During that period of time, I was led to Messianic Judaism.  I never, ever dreamed G-d would give me my own, personal rabbi.  When G-d put us together almost eight years ago, it was very clear He desired for us to marry and minister together.  It has been a beautiful and fruitful marriage.  Because of my desire for wisdom, I grew to know and recognize what a "good" man looks and acts like.  

During the years I was growing in His wisdom, I prayed for my two daughters (from my first marriage) to find good, wise men as husbands.  Even though I didn't know how to recognize one myself, G-d honored that prayer.  When I was praying for them, I didn't imagine G-d would bring one for me, too.  Both of my daughters have wonderful husbands, and I am so thankful that G-d put them together.

Whether you are single, divorced, young or old, it is important to seek G-d's face and wisdom about a husband.  He will hear and honor your prayers.  My advice is to read Proverbs daily, and make notes about what a wise man does.  Also make notes about what a foolish man does.  If I had followed this advice, I'd have never married the first two men.  (This advice applies in other areas also, such as friendships and business relationships.)

Remember, it is never too late to become wise.  I am proof of that statement, and G-d can use broken vessels, like me.  He can put the pieces back together and make something beautiful.






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Spiritual Sundays

Let's Get Social Sunday

Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Teach Me Tuesday

Titus 2 Tuesday 
A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up

Domestically DivineTuesdays

Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday

A Wise Woman Builds

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Favorite Things 

Cozy Book Hop
 
Faith Filled Friday
Friendship Friday

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 12

Tell the older men  to be serious, sensible, self-controlled and sound in their trust, love and perseverance. (Titus 2:2)

 Husbands, love your wives, even as Yeshua also loved the body of believers, and gave himself for it.

(Ephesians 5:25)

Father, I pray for my daughter's husbands to love their wives with a tender, sacrificial love the way Yeshua does.  I pray they will not put any one above their wives.  I pray that they will treat them with honor and respect, and cherish them as the treasure they are.  I pray they will speak of their love daily, and compliment their wives not only for outward beauty but for inward beauty, too.  

I pray they will be the kind of husbands that my daughters will trust and have no reason not to submit to, because they will always know their husbands have their best interest at heart. 

I pray they will be serious and sensible, especially in matters of finance.  I pray they will be committed in their role to provide for their family by working and bringing income home.   I pray they will be leaders of their family, teaching them to obey You, study Your Word, and not forsake fellowship, study, prayer, and worship with other believers.

I pray these men will be examples to their wives and children of self-control, integrity, and discipline.  And, Father, I pray that all men who are part of their generations to come will follow in their footsteps as men of G-d.


 I'm linking up today to Faith Filled Friday
and Spiritual Sundays