April 4, 2008

Today is my 27th Wedding Anniversary with my beautiful wife Marvelle. This woman has consistently loved me for the majority of my life. I have spent more time with her than any other human being on the face of the earth. She has given me two amazing sons, individual and unique, both in their own right, men of character, integrity and honor. She has given me a restoration of hope in humanity in the beautiful face of my daughter. The best of everything I am is within the compassionate heart of my daughter. As I look around my world today, her fingerprints are everywhere. I am blessed and thankful to have this love of the amazing woman I am honored to call my wife.

For almost three decades I have witnessed this woman live a life of worship and submission unto the God she loves above all. If ever I have met a true Christian, it is Marvelle. If she is your friend, you will know no greater friendship than the one she shares with you. If she is your prayer partner, you will never go deeper into the heart of God than she can lead you. If she is your healer, you will never be nearer to the source of health than when she ministers to you. If you are lucky enough to have shared an in-depth conversation with her, you have witnessed the love of Chirst. If you were unfortunate enough to have to keep pace with her in a work environment, you are probably still trying to recover! Marvelle has taught me, helped me, forgiven me, blessed me, believed in me, committed to me, submitted to me, and in its purest form, loved me.

I love you Marvelle for being who you are in my failures and successes. We both know there have been many more failures than successes. Through every season of our lives you have made me feel as if my existence was enough for you. I have never had a single doubt about your love for me, even when I doubted mine for you. The Mother you have been, and continue to be to our children is truly a gift that only you could have given me. I am grateful for your tireless giving, even when I tried to convince you there was nothing left to give. Somehow you always find a way to heal me. I am the man I am because you love me.

The twenty calls each day on my cell phone-love them! The advent of your cell phone ”text” life-Love it! The sincere questions regarding a decision between the two dollar and five dollar pair of shoes-love them! The way you draw a bath tub full of only hot water, then scream when you step into it-love it! The death you die every day until you get desserts-Love it! The loyalty you give your friends -Love it! When you want to trade cars with me because your car is low on gas-Love it! When you pump five dollars worth of gas in your car until you can get me to fill it up-Love it! For actually running out of gas trying to find me to get you gas-Love it! Opening one hundred browsers on your laptop and then pushing it away in frustration when it does not respond as quick as you think it should-Love it! Fainting at hospitals with the utmost class and descretion-Love it! Never wanting to eat a meal without checking on the kids first-Love it! Never wanting to eat a meal alone-Love it! For believing every night I was actually looking forward to rubbing your back-Love it! The way you love my Mother-Love it!  For giving up the Weather Channel during our 21 Day Fast-Love it! For making the term “Grandmother To Be” look so hot-Love it! And, for being the most stable place in my world-I love you, Marvelle! Happy 27th Wedding Anniversary!