“I Could Wish”: To This Man, On Our 29th Anniversary

I don’t know if any marriage is easy. I know ours is not. But nothing worth having comes easy, I say—except grace.

The wedding guests shook their heads. “They’ve met their match,” some said. The guests, the bride, the groom—they all knew that sparks would fly as surely as love would grow, hat the cakewalk would end the second we cut a slice at the reception and walked into the January cold.

I shared three lessons for incompatible soul-mates in this post a few years ago. They’re even more true.

But this year, I wrote a little poem to this man of mine.

"I Could Wish"

I could wish he cared for image, and sought 
Social status
That he chose cars, clothes, home for show.

I could.

I could wish he’d flex his convictions and 
Meld with the crowd,
That he’d relax his stance and cave.

I could.

I could wish he’d say, “Do it your way, Babe…
You be the boss,”
That he would be my rubber stamp.

I could. 

But I won’t.

I’ll thank God for this man out to please One,
Who holds truth fast
And lovingly stands up to me.

Stands up to me and for me and with me. 
Who loves me and loves God and loves God with me. 
Who serves me and serves God and serves God with me. 
Who strives to live a quiet life, mind his business and work with his hands. 

I could thank God for 29 years one, 
hard won, with this man.

And I will. 
Yes, I will.

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

—Psalm 9:1