Good Gift: A tribute to my children's father.

Warning: I am about to spell it out, draw it out, and let it out, so if you are uninterested in the terrific nature of another woman's husband--or if you are Steve--then skip to the next post 'cause I'm in the mood to illustrate my providencial good fortune in marriage for the generations to come... or just because.

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Sometimes I think my husband is a better woman than I.

Let me clarify: As women, we are innately prone to unique and unselfish qualities--those giving and nurturing tendencies with which God sprinkled us. Right? Well, I am here to admit that, apparently, some of those sprinkles ricocheted off of my spirit and clung to the one with whom I would spend forever. Truly, he seems to possess more of the giving spirit that I feel I should be foreordained to claim. However, I see that this is what makes us a good fit. We are a team, and teams are best matched when each individual makes up for the deficits of another-- And, let's face it, I look better in a dress.

His generosity enriches my life, or sometimes just make it a little easier. When he:

makes the bed every morning,

does the dishes before I even come downstairs,

makes Paige's lunch before school,

or saves me the last bite of dessert,

I am reminded of his love for me.

Steve is the most generous person I know. He loves to serve and give and knows little boundaries in this area. He does not wait for someone else to get it done. He is anxiously engaged in a good cause, always volunteering. Someone moving? Count him in. Someone need their weeds pulled? He'll do it as he walks by their house. Often, he recognizes a need before it remotely even occurs to me. His ability to give is boundless, and I am learning a great deal from this innate gift.

His mom always tells me, "He just came that way, Lisa." I remember the first time she told me this when we were engaged, and she asked me what I loved most about her son. I told her it was that he has such a good heart. This was the first time she said, "Oh, yes. He just came that way."

This man is charitable, kind, patient. He mourns with those that mourn. He gives of himself, his time, his talents...he's just the kind of person I want to be yoked with. And I am.

"Every good gift...is from above." James 1:17

He is my good gift, indeed. Though I am often found sharing this good gift with others, I know it is a blessing for me and for my children who witness his giving spirit.

Now to the part where he is the father. I realize that as the mother, I truly set the tone of the home. Thankfully, I have my own personal Steve-- and he sets the tone of me. He reminds me of how to be a good mother, without actually reminding me. His presence can change my attitude from grim to graceful... He has the talent (and, truly, it is a talent) of smudging out the memories of a harried day. And, believe me, many a twisted day has been smoothed by his optimism.

He enjoys our children and they enjoy him. He produces much more exciting bubble baths for the boys than I do. His bedtime stories come alive with accents and dialects (who wouldn't enjoy a pirate who goes from Russian to Scottish in one story?) And, around our house, he is "The Man" according to our children, and they tell me so all the time. "You can't open that jar, Mom? Don't worry, Daddy will do it when he gets home 'cause he's The Man!"

Steve is intelligent, wise, and learned in the scriptures. He is capable and savvy is his career. He is a leader and a servant. He has righteous desires and an eternal perspective. He is clean and tidy. He is a soft place to land. And just so you are not convinced that I have a flawless husband, I will reassure you that sometimes he forgets to put the toilet paper on the roll...oh, wait--that's me...

Happy Father's Day (week) Steve.

You're the Man.