Even stronger men...

I'll never forget the first time I saw him. I walked into the art class my first day of college and there he was. He had long blond hair, patch work jeans and earth shoes - it was the 70's after all. There he was, sitting on the air conditioner, right above the sign that said, "Do not sit on the air conditioner," and it was love at first sight.

Okay, so maybe love is a strong word, but I did know immediately that this was someone who would be very special in my life. Looking back, I had no idea just how special. I am, of course, describing the first day I saw my husband, Dale.

This Valentine's Day, I decided to take a moment and tell you about one of the strongest men I know - my husband.

To say that Dale is steadfast is an understatement. This is a man who I have had the privilege to know for over 34 years and never once have I seen him waiver. Life has not always been kind to us - it never is to anyone. Still in all these years, I have never seen him lose sight of God. Through the loss of jobs, a child, even dreams, Dale has continued to hold fast to hope in the promises of God. That's strength!

Dale is a wonderful father to our two children. Some people don't stop to think what great strength and endurance that requires. Raising children is a lot like running a marathon - and raising teenagers is like running a marathon coupled with a warrior dash! I have had the honor of watching my husband become one of the most caring dads I have ever seen. That is endurance.

Dale is a husband...I started to use a lot of adjectives, but they all started to sound like fluff compared to the depth of the term. Dale is that kind of husband you read about in Ephesians...the one that loves his wife as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for it. Anyone that knows me would probably say a loud AMEN that living with me CAN'T be easy. I am loud, opinionated, strong-willed, and easily distracted. Housekeeping has never been a gift of mine, and - to use an old joke - I treat him like a god, placing burnt offerings before him each night. Truthfully, he does most of the cooking - probably out of necessity and pure need for survival. Yet in all this, he shows me love. He supports my crazy dreams and  believes in me more than I do myself. That is fortitude.

Dale is extremely talented. He writes songs, has an amazing ability in art, and is just plain smart. Dale knows something about almost everything - or he can figure it out. He has the smart that can't be found in simply going to school - he learns from life. He can take the most difficult concepts and cut through all the clutter (that's a nice word for manure) and speak truth into the situation. He's one of those people who can explain the most difficult concepts in such a way that a child can understand them - that takes a "smart" that most people never find. That is power.

Yep, strength, endurance, fortitude, power - Dale.

This Valentine's Day, my blog is dedicated husbands and to the strongest man I know - my husband.
Feel free to comment and brag on your own "strong man" this Valentine's Day.

Ephesians 5:25

The Message (MSG)

 ^25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.