Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
(In honor of our family’s anniversary week)
“Roses are red, my love; wiolets are blue; sugar is sweet, my love, but not as sweet as you.” My father-in-law used to sing that to his beloved wife, Mae. Jake was a German immigrant to the United States, arriving through Ellis Island when he was a young boy. Although his strong work ethic resulted in a highly successful career, he never fully lost his German proclivity to substitute his w’s and v’s. So he always pronounced wheelbarrow as vheelbarrow, Volkswagon as Wolksvagon, violets as wiolets.
Scripture says a man who finds a wife finds a good thing. Jake knew he’d found favor from the Lord when he found Mae. Both were God-fearing, hardworking, kind, generous, loyal. And frugal. Both had come from poverty and had learned the importance of making do with what you have. Chip remembers one day when his mother came in to the kitchen wearing a pair of stockings with runs. (One of those “make do” moments). His dad protested, and literally pulled off her stockings! “Mae, you get whatever you need to take care of yourself,” he lovingly encouraged.
Well, I’m glad that’s “one nut that didn’t fall far from the tree,” as they say.
When Chip and I first got married I would always tell him what a “lucky dog” he was to get me. But it didn’t take long for me to realize I was the “lucky dog.” In fact, I’ve wondered if when I was born God said, “This one is going to need some extra love as she walks through life.” So he gave me Chip. Like his dad, my husband makes sure I have everything I need….and more. Not just materially, but emotionally, spiritually. He encourages me to always put God first. He laughs at my jokes, watches my sappy movies and applauds my work.
Of course, we know luck has nothing to do with a good marriage. God is the author of every good thing. It was God’s idea to bring two very imperfect people together and give them the opportunity to draw from one another’s strengths and help each other in weakness. To experience lifelong love. Companionship. Completeness.
Who but a loving Creator could design such a thing?
It’s wery vonderful indeed!