Thursday, March 12, 2015

Like Father Like Son, Cherished and Nourished

When my husband takes me away, from the chaos of life, to the mountains and water, to be alone with him, I know I am cherished.  I wouldn't choose to be alone with me.  I can be quite irritable and self-focused.  He loves anyway and pushes through hard.

When he plans trips to art museums and mineral science museums, when he'd probably rather sit on the bench outside, he is sacrificially loving, dying to his own will, to pour love upon an incredibly undeserving and sinful wife.   He gets me alone with him and nourishes and cares for me in ways  that he can't when all the other roles and responsibilities of life are in his day.

Years ago, everything inside of him told him I would reject him if he prayed for me.  He died to his self-will and fear of rejection and followed after God's own heart.  He would tell you he stumbled and fumbled around.  I would tell you I have never seen a man so strong.  God has used my husband's prayers to break strongholds in my life, to set the record straight that I am loved and cherished and a daughter of God, and to give me a clear view of God's priorities for my life.

My Father does the same...

When my Father draws me away, from the chaos of life, to be with Him, to learn to know Him better, I know I am cherished.
When I was a baby Christian, He would wake me at all hours of the night and draw me unto Himself.  I would go to work very tired, but every lost hour of sleep was more-than worth it, to begin to know this Father who saved me.  As He drew me unto Himself, I knew I was cherished.  I wouldn't wake myself to spend time with me. I don't see myself as all that fun to be around at 3:00 am.  But God knows His creation and His children and loves them anyway.

My friends will often ask, "Why in the world do you wake up at "such and such a time"?

Here's the secret:  God wakes me and draws me, and I've never ever missed the sleep that I once thought I couldn't do without.

To be cherished and nourished by my Father and my husband is a precious gift that I receive joyfully. I know I don't deserve it.  But they love anyway.