I have the World’s Greatest Wife. Krista loves my parents. My elderly parents are moving into an independent living facility this weekend, and my wife is spending a week with them to help. She is boxing up their belongings, helping them buy furniture, driving them wherever they need to go, and coordinating movers to transport everything. Because she loves me, she is choosing to be a tremendous blessing to my mom and dad. I have the world’s greatest wife.
As I write this, I am sitting on I-70, just west of Idaho Springs, CO. That is no exaggeration. We alternate between a complete standstill and a toddler’s version of a standstill. We have less than 100 miles and Google Maps tells us it will be at least three hours.
We are returning home from a fantastic family vacation to California (hence the inadvertent pictures last week). This trip is the last of a fast-paced summer. I have been on a three-month sabbatical and we have made the most of it. We covered ten states, two oceans, lots of family and friends, and loads of fun. And I have to say again, I have the World’s Greatest Wife.
She has served me and my children incessantly as we covered over 5,000 miles, totaling over six weeks away from home. Her packing, meal planning, navigating, event coordinating, driving, and go-with-the-flowing, have been worthy of the “Proverbs 31 Wife” award. I have rested; she has worked hard.
But maybe the most significant indicator of her wonder is the fact that as we return home (assuming the traffic dissipates), and I have two weeks remaining before I have to go to work, I cannot wait to spend them with her. (And I am already thinking about our next date.) You need to understand that we have been together almost 24/7 for three months. But like newlyweds, we can’t get enough of each other. We are not newlyweds. On August 15 we celebrated our 19th anniversary. But we love like newlyweds.
Though I love my calling as a pastor and am eager to get back to that ministry, I also love my wife and wish this could be the norm.
Krista, I love you. Thanks for being the kind of wife who causes me to want to be with you every moment of every day.
Today, the love of my life turns 40. I honor her with these words:
I love the way she says my name,
and to our Savior speaks the same.
She’s my K.
I love the way she does her work,
with strength and honor, never shirk.
She’s my K.
I love the way she shows our girls,
to love a man, to be his world.
She’s my K.
I love the way she lives to bless,
and fill me up with happiness.
She’s my K.
I love the way she kisses me,
her love can awe, can weaken knees.
She’s my K.
I love the way she gives her all,
devoted to her Master’s call.
She’s His K.
My love for her grows deeper still,
as each sand falls the glass to fill.
And if He grants our story told,
’til pages tatter, brittle, old,
she’ll always stay
my K.
I’m not fond of surprises. And as I only have a few days before cruising over that first proverbial birthday hill, I’ve made it very clear to my family that I did not want a huge surprise birthday bash. A nice quiet celebration would satisfy nicely, but I did want to celebrate nonetheless. It is a landmark birthday afterall.
However, our schedule before sabbatical is truly insane. Beginning mid-April, we had scarcely a day or two without something planned, and the nights were even busier. My husband had to make an extra-special effort to coordinate with my sweet friend who wanted to simply surprise me with a small dinner celebration. And I was surprised. I didn’t even catch on when Doug suggested that I dress nicely for an afternoon playdate (at least, not until I was on the way there hoping that my friend wasn’t in sweats and wondering why I was so dressed up). 
The evening was delightful, and I felt celebrated (just enough). And although the gathering was a blessing from my girlfriends, Doug had to get me there (and have me dressed appropriately). He also respected my wishes for something quiet and low-key. I have the world’s greatest husband.
Husbands are under a lot of pressure. Their calling before God is to be Christ to their wife. It’s no easy task, more so if they take it seriously. And although he may not know it, my husband was Christ to me this morning. How? God has blessed me with a husband that desires sincerity. He doesn’t appreciate words or actions done merely out of obligation. And Doug challenged me on that this morning.
You may wonder how this demonstrated the love of Christ to me. I’ll admit it wasn’t clear to me (or easily received) at first either, but after prayerful consideration, the Holy Spirit did His work and gave me understanding. Christ doesn’t appreciate words or actions done merely out of obligation either. He calls it hypocrisy, and He has some pretty harsh words for those who practice it.
Now, I don’t think my husband would say I was being hypocritical this morning. But he was exhorting me to make sure my heart and motives were pure, and that my attitude was right.
Wives, do you realize that it takes a lot of guts to do that? It takes courage for a husband to rebuke, correct, and exhort his wife. And I am so grateful that God has given me a husband that desires my growth, maturity, and sanctification . . . and isn’t afraid to do what God has called him to do. I have the world’s greatest husband.
I have the World’s Greatest Wife. Krista doesn’t use her monthly hormonal challenges as an excuse to be unpleasant, lazy, or sinful. She wants to overcome. She wants to persevere in righteousness. She wants to love me and others, even when the battle rages. She invites me to draw to her attention any evidence that she’s being unkind or selfish. And she seeks the Spirit’s help to prevail over this most unwelcome foe. She does it for many reasons, but mostly for me. I have the world’s greatest wife.
I have the World’s Greatest Wife. Krista recently accompanied me to a retreat at which I was the main speaker. It was a full weekend. Yet, rather than selfishly complaining about all my teaching, counseling, spontaneous one-on-one meetings, etc., she supported and prayed for me. She ministered to some of the young women. She came as my partner in ministry, seeking to serve our Savior and our church alongside me. (And she even managed a few spontaneous one-on-one meetings for us. ) I have the world’s greatest wife.