A Father’s Example

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. (Proverbs 27:19)

American author Clarence Budington Kelland is quoted as saying, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” As I read this quote, I immediately thought of my husband. JT models a life of great integrity for the girls and me. Each day as he goes about his daily routine, JT’s actions constantly exemplify the fruit of the spirit.

JT doesn’t lecture the girls about how to love others; he simply showers his children with an unselfish, self-sacrificing love they are eager to share with others. JT doesn’t prattle on about the importance of patience; instead he enthusiastically reads the girls’ favorite stories over and over and never complains about doing so. JT doesn’t speak volumes about kindness; he merely offers a pleasant disposition and a readiness to help others. JT doesn’t craft lessons about faithfulness; instead he honors his wedding vows and his promise to God by remaining faithful to his wife. This is the life JT leads, the life his children carefully watch.

Because JT is such a hardworking father, I wanted him to give him a Father’s Day gift that would allow him to relax. This Father’s Day I surprised JT with lawn service from now until September. This means my honey will not have to battle allergies as he mows the lawn each week. Instead, he can sit back and relax while someone else does the work for him. JT really appreciated this gift.

Photo: Courtesy of kyclark

Another Year!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5a)

Yesterday was JT’s birthday, so we celebrated with a date night dinner. We put the children to bed, left them with the babysitter, and enjoyed dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants.

I am so very thankful that God has allowed my husband to enjoy another birthday! He is a great man, one who has been a wonderful friend to me and a dynamic father to our children.

Happy Birthday Baby! The girls and I love you very, very, very much!

Cut Off!

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

This past weekend, JT and I were doing some yardwork. (Actually JT was doing most of the work but I did check in with an occasional word of encouragement and a beverage.) At one point, the girls and I stepped out of the house to see how he was doing. JT was busy hedging along the side of the house. After checking in with him, we turned to go back into the house but before I could get in the door, the hedger fell silent and I heard JT say, “Aww, no!”

I zipped back around to the side of the house to see what was wrong. JT simply said, “Could you please go into the house and see if the phone is working?” I went in, checked the telephone, and found there was no signal. Call me clueless, but I still didn’t realize why JT was asking me to check the phone until I got back outside. I told him the phone wasn’t working and he said, “I didn’t think it would. I accidentally cut the phone line.”

Though my temper sometimes flares, I didn’t get upset or angry with JT. I knew he was already annoyed with himself and I didn’t want to make him feel worse. Besides that, it would have been so wrong of me to criticize him! After all, JT has stood silently and hugged me lovingly as I told him how I’d broken off the car’s side view mirror (more than once!) while pulling into the garage. JT never uttered one word of condemnation when I shattered the window of the new minivan with the stroller that had slipped from my hands as I unhooked it from the ceiling of the garage.

After placing a service call to the telephone company, I thought about how I had responded to JT’s mistake and was proud of the way I’d handled the situation. I didn’t fly off the handle and exacerbate the situation with angry words. I didn’t belittle my husband by offering sarcastic remarks.

Sometimes my temper flares and I handle situations improperly. Over the past several months, I’ve been praying that God would help me use the fruits of the spirit to guide my actions. God has seen my weaknesses and has been answering that prayer. In Ephesians 4:32, we are reminded to be kind, loving, and forgiving in our interactions with one another.

What a shame it would been for me to sever communication with my husband while I seethed about a telephone line he had accidentally cut! Telephone lines can quickly and easily be repaired, but the real lines of communication often take much longer to restore, especially after they’ve been damaged by thoughtless behavior and unkind words. I pray we all will let the words of Ephesians 4:32 guide our interactions with others!