Turning 50

That's what my husband, Jim, is doing tomorrow.

Fifi would say, "he's half-a-hundred." Tonight at dinner, when he waxed profound and said something to the effect of, "tomorrow I'll start my 5th decade," I had to break it to him that today he's finishing his 5th decade--thus the "50th" birthday. And that tomorrow he starts his 6th decade.

And then he started counting on his fingers, "O.k., when I turned 10, that was one decade; and when I turned 20, that was two decades..."

I looked at him with raised eyebrows, waiting for his "aha" moment to catch up with me.

And when he stopped counting, I thought he might cry--a big, burly, angry, manly cry of course. Certainly not the defeated, deflated whimper of a man who just realized that what his 6-year old daughter was singing around the house yesterday suddenly didn't sound so nonsensical at all, "I used to be 50...but now I'm 60!"

Poor Jim.

O.k. Sympathetic moment over.

See, twenty years ago he promised to grow old with me. But he's. not. doing. it. right! He's fitter than he's ever been. He's stronger than he's ever been. And with all that fitness and strength, he's more handsome than I signed on for.

He is quite frankly out of my league.

*sigh* I am a blessed woman.

Long before I knew the Lord, He was aligning my life to come into His Kingdom. And His greatest Earthly instrument was a man I first saw at the opposite end of a long hallway in 1987. He was the epitome of "tall, dark and handsome" and the way our eyes met at that distance caused me to have to duck into an adjoining empty room and catch my breath.

No joke.

O.k....so, maybe the "look" we exchanged wasn't one of concern over my spiritual condition, but the Lord had a plan for these two unregenerate sinners nonetheless.

My husband is patient. Or maybe passive. But either way, I feel loved.

Jim is kind. So very kind. I didn't know what kind looked like before I married him and birthed his children.

Jim is not jealous. The only time he was maybe, sort of, a little jealous was when I broke the news to him that I had become a Christian, i.e., been "born again." But in that case, it was a good thing, worthy of coveting.

Jim does not brag. He is, in fact, one of the humblest men I know. He is confident in his conviction, but never loud about it. He is happy to serve as the Lord ordains, but never desires to be seen serving.

Jim never acts unbecomingly. Ever. Because he was raised by a lovely little woman, and not by wolves.

Jim does not seek his own. He is always ready to put aside his own desires for the greater good of what needs to be done for the ones he loves. Sometimes that looks like a five-seater sedan instead of a zippy little convertible. Sometimes that looks like late night dishes--while I blog. Ugh. And sometimes it looks like brushing little girls' teeth at bedtime to bless the mommy.

Jim is not easily provoked. At least, I don't think he is. It hasn't occured to me to try for...oh...17 or 18 years.

Jim does not keep a record of wrongs. But that might just be because now there are four of us girls wronging him in all kinds of ways, everyday, and he's simply run out of brain space. Or maybe he really is just that much nicer than the rest of us.

Jim does not get any satisfaction in seeing sinners, "get what's coming to them," but is encouraged at the testimony of other believers.

Jim bears, believes, hopes and endures. And how. Even though he grunts a little grunt at the idea of unpacking his computer cord and plugging me in so I can continue composing this most flattering post...about him!

In all these ways, my husband has loved me. His life has been used of the Lord to build a beautiful life for me and for our three girls. I cannot imagine myself without him.

I hope he won't waste another second seeing his new age through the eyes of natural man, as if it's something to be avoided, but will rather embrace the privilege of experience and wisdom as a thing the Lord regards as good and worthy of respect.

Oh yes, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM!
Your girls love you so much.

Post inspired by 1Corinthians13.