May 18, 2009
Blown Completely Away
Rob wrote this to me while he was away this weekend. I was blown away and I want to be a better wife because of the same reasons.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 3:20 PM
Dearest Jay,
I am reminded, as I have been apart from you for some 77 hours, that I can be fine when I am away from you, but I cannot be great or good.
I am sorry for the times that I have been:
· Slow to respond to your requests for my attention
· Slow to respond to requests for my action or assistance
· Too tired to spend time awake and interactive with you
· Too absorbed in the work of ministry to give you the attention that you deserve
· Too absorbed with the Internet things or television programs that I like to watch or do to give you the attention that you deserve
God has called me into this work of ministry in the local church and I cannot resist that call for fear of it burning in my bones. God has put his people in my heart and I cannot stop praying for them, teaching them, ministering with them, preaching to them, or caring from them, but that calling does not nor should it supersede the covenant relationship that I have with you in our marriage. The marriage that I must remind myself that God has helped us to rebuild into something strong and beautiful after the cares and temptations of the world had made it into something dirty and immoral and broken to pieces.
I wish to reaffirm with my words and my actions, my love and my caring for you. I wish to rededicate myself to giving you food from my heart rather than the crumbs that fall from the table.
I have a strong will, a strong mind, and a strong soul, but you are my heart and my passion. I can be fine without you, but I cannot be great or good without you.
Will you continue to be my bride and my wife, my partner and my helpmate?
Will you continue to be my friend, compatriot, and cohort?
Will you continue to be my confidant and lover?
This scripture from Ephesians 5:22-30 was laid on my heart and my mind this afternoon:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or a wrinkle or anything of the kind – yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but nourishes it and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body.
You are a member of my body, no less than my good left arm is a part of my body. I am crying real tears as I type this because I feel convicted that I have not loved, and nourished and cared for you, as I should have since we have made the transition to the Big City for service in full time ministry.
I wish to celebrate our life together in the Big City, in ministry, as pastor and laywoman, and more importantly as husband and wife, TOGETHER. Not struggling through the challenges that we face as separate rulers of our own domains, but as partners in love and in Christ.
I feel responsible, that you would not have to be so strong and so hard in your words and actions, if I nurtured, and cherished, washed and nourished your whole being and truly treated you as my own body.
In my eyes and in my heart you truly are beautiful and glorious, pure and splendid without blemish, wrinkle, or spot.
Please forgive me for my shortcomings and shortfalls as your husband.
After 16 plus years of marriage, thank you for being my lovely bride and my loving wife.
With all of the love in my heart, the cup that God fills to overflowing,
Rob
Farah said,
May 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Holy Cow! I had to stop reading to wipe the tears awy. So very sweet
Andie said,
May 18, 2009 at 10:04 pm
That is absolutly priceless, precious, and so wonderful. Oh, if all husbands felt this way about their wives, the divorce rates would be non-existant! May God bless you and Rob in your marriage, and in your ministry together!
Andie
Carol Connell said,
May 19, 2009 at 12:19 am
What a wonderful letter, Jayleigh. I am sure it is something you will save and cherish for the rest of your life. If every husband and wife lived by the principles that were mentioned in this letter, there would be lots and lots of happy marriages. I appreciate your husband’s spirit of humility.
Shirley said,
May 19, 2009 at 1:27 am
Oh, my goodness, Jayleigh. What a touching letter; what a powerful lesson. Please tell Rob how much his letter blessed me–almost startled me. Without using your names of course, if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep a copy and use it perhaps in an article or in a seminar for ministers and their wives.
Love you. Be strong.
david, said,
May 19, 2009 at 8:59 pm
it is good when men, husbands, fathers get away for reflection time.
Wives need retreat time too ( but YOU can not be the organizer, cook, transportation chairperson!)