Cherish...day 38

My art and blog tonight are for my husband, Don

Don…

Thank you for including me in your group of friends 34 years ago when I was “the new kid” in junior high.

Thank you for caring that I was lost

Thank you, that as we moved onto high school, you remained my friend even though I was not especially warm or reciprocating of friendship

Thank you that you still cared that I was lost

Thank you that you invited me to Young Life.

Thank you that you kept asking me to Young Life even though my answer was always “no”

Thank you for realizing that large groups petrified me and inviting me to a small group bible study with your friends.

Thank you that you were there the night I became a Christian in the spring of 1980

Thank you for being tenacious in trying to keep in touch with me once we moved on to college

Thank you that when the bottom was falling out of my world you talked to me about Jesus

Thank you that when I rejected your romantic approaches when we were seniors in college that you saw the woundedness and shame behind that rejection and remained kind and caring

Thank you for pursuing me

Thank you for seeing me as worthy of being your wife.

Thank you that stayed by my side during my dark days…before the healing

Thank you that you wanted to have lots of kids

Thank you that you provide

Thank you for your integrity

Thank you for making me laugh

Thank you that you cry when your heart is touched

Thank you that you take seriously the call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church

Thank you for being my steady and gracious companion

Thank you for being a wise, loving, deeply involved and father in our children’s lives

Thank you for seeing my gifts and encouraging me to use them

Thank you for cheering for me no matter what crazy challenge I take on

Thank you for understanding that when art takes over, I am messy

Thank you for understanding my need to nurture squirrels, rats, and most recently, rabbits

Thank you for helping feel like I belong…that I matter…that I am cherished.

Thank you for loving God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength

And thank you for sending me flowers at my new job today…with a note saying I am awesome, lovely and a great mom…that made my day!

You know, I can’t stand country music….none the less…

This much I know is true:

God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.

I love you, Don!

-Leanne