The other day I started to get annoyed with my husband. I started to think about all the things he doesn’t do. I started to think about how I am usually the one putting together bookshelves and our son’s toys. I started to get frustrated at the fact that certain household duties were completed better when I did them. I started to complain in my heart. Then I caught myself and God birth this blog after some time of reflecting and recognizing my spiritual lens were blurry.

I didn’t marry the tool belt hubby who knows how to fix everything without directions, or the mechanic hubby who can fix the car without professional help, or the health guru that knows what not to eat, or the fashion icon who is aiming to make fashion statements one outfit at a time, or the social media influencer ( I love that my hubby doesn’t care for social media), or the man with 5 college degrees, or the man with six figures, or the man with (you fill in a cultural/carnal Stigma in the blank)…

But who I did marry was a man seriously after God’s own heart. I married a man of prayer, vision, and passion. I married a man with eternity written on his heart and a love for his family. I married a loyal man. I married a man who doesn’t engage in gossip or carnal conversations and doesn’t mind shutting them down. I married a courageous man. I married a man of purity who is living out his God given purpose. I married a man who is vulnerable yet strong. Daring and devoted. I married a romantic. One who loves like Jesus. I married a man who aims to grow every single day.

I seriously can’t believe that our 5 year anniversary is approaching in 2 short weeks. As I get closer to that day I reflect on the goodness of God. I used to be so critical about the fact that Michael wasn’t Mr.Fix It. I used to nag him for not being what I thought “A man” should look like according media, but every single day God shows me that who I have as my spiritual covering is a rare jewel in Jesus. Michael truly is one of a kind. I HAVE NEVER MET ANOTHER PERSON LIKE HIM. Period! He’s a genuine soul!

I think about the adversity he has faced with having to endure so much at a young age. Being born of a teen mother who was 15 when she had him. Being a premature baby born at 24 weeks old. Growing up without his father until he was 16 years old when his pops got out of serving time in prison. Becoming a Christian after practicing the Islamic faith. Michael has beat the odds only by God’s grace. He is not a statistic. Only by God’s grace. He is a radiant husband and father only by God’s grace and I’m just one grateful wife who is enjoying the beauty of this man. Today as he is out mowing our lawn and you know what.. I’m proud of him. Not because he’s out being “handy”, but because many of the things I have watched him do has been his “first time” doing it or my first time seeing him do it and it’s been special to experience many first moments with the man of my prayers. So instead of nagging him for not doing certain things or knowing instinctively how to do them, I’m cheering him on from the inside of our cool home while he’s outside working in the scorching heat. He just got 1000 degrees hotter (**wink wink**) cutting the grass! Love him beyond these words!

Michael may not be one to wear a tool belt or be a fashion icon or whatever else our culture praises in men today, but what he does put on is an attire that will never retire or go out of style. He wears an attire that is spiritually able to keep him strong in Christ alone.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV

Michael embodies this passage and for that I am so grateful to walk this faith walk with him by the grace of God!

So to the wife who wished her hubby was something that he’s not, will you accept him for who he is with his personal strengths? Will you celebrate his small victories? Will you cheer him on? Will you edify him where he’s at today? Will you remove cultural stigmas and culture norms and rejoice about his kingdom characteristics? I dare you to!

Watch him shine, brighten up and thrive in every other area as you praise him for what he’s doing right and choose to stop nagging him for what he’s doing wrong. I have to be intentional to do this myself every single day! And you know what, the fruit of it has been beyond what I could have prayed for! Keep speaking life!

Be loved beloved!

-Amy