Love Gift | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Love Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Catrina Bradley
12/14/06
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I love Thursdays. Thursdays are Terri’s days. While I’m toiling away at my office in the city, miles from home, Terri is here .. mopping, dusting, vacuuming, disinfecting, laundering, and scrubbing.

Terri was a love-gift from my husband.

My husband was a love-gift from God.

My husband understands my flaws and my limits. His love for me encompasses my weaknesses, and strengthens them. He encouraged me to hire a housekeeper, and we are both happier. I wouldn’t mind cleaning my own home, but when I drag my body in the door at night, I’m physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. I love my job and I love my employer, but the long commute and the longer days zap my energy.

Only once has a “Spouse of the Year” been honored at my company’s annual Christmas Party. My husband was that spouse. I am in charge of the party, and he ran errands for me, purchased gift certificates for my boss, and put up with my crazy hours and foul moods for weeks. The usual stuff. He is always the winner of my Spouse of the Year award.

Before I leave for work every morning, I pull my pre-packed lunch bag out of the refrigerator. Hubby says its no big deal to fix my lunch; he’s doing his anyway. When I return home at night, his second load of laundry is usually drying. More often than not, he makes our supper. He also does most of the grocery shopping, so he buys yummy easy-to-make dinners, or heat-and-eat frozen delicacies. Sandwiches are always an option, and some nights we just have cereal. He’s easy to please.

He is also eager to please. My husband is the most selfless person I know, although he’d probably disagree; he’s also humble. I vividly remember stealing into my friend Leigh’s house at midnight to whisk her away from her abusive husband while he was at work. She, her two children, and her cat spent the next few months as members of our household. Hubby doesn’t even like cats. Another year we shared our home for three months with a couple who were between house closings. Many friends in dire straits have been helped out of financial holes by my husband.

We have never been in a financial hole. God has blessed us. Hubby learned stewardship from his father and is a responsible caretaker of our earnings. He thinks of little things that add up. He won’t carry a balance on a credit card, preferring instead to withdraw from savings if necessary to pay it in full. When I asked him about it, he explained about interest paid and interest earned, and how it benefits us financially to pay it off. And not a month goes by without a deposit into that savings account. I was reared by frugal parents myself, and I’m no spendthrift, but I do need reining in once in a while. He is reason to my fancy.

I know my husband loves me; that goes without saying. But he does say it. Often. He also shows it. Hubby is not what you would call “romantic,” but he is thoughtful. The store has four rows of my brand of deodorant, but I can hardly ever find my favorite: Original Scent Solid. One day, hubby came home holding up a bag. “Honey, guess what I found?” He grinned, and pulled out .. “Original Scent Solid!”

I cheered, and thanked him.

“But wait.” He reached into the bag again. “I got you not one .. not two .. not three .. or even four .. but FIVE .. Original Scent Solids!”

Like I said, my husband is God’s love gift to me. I know I’ve done nothing to deserve such a mate, and I thank God every day for being so generous. I give God the glory for His gift; I’m sure He won’t mind my singing the praises of the one He chose.

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