"30 reasons why I love my husband of 53 years.
He has a beautiful smile
He fixes the washing machine when it is broken
He pulls weeds in the yard
He got the swimming pool cleaned and ready when he does not like to swim.
He loves me in spite of all my flaws
He is a good father
He volunteers at a home for girls that have been sexually abused
He loves to do the music for church on Sundays
He does all the maintenance work at the church
He is very sweet with our baby kittens when he does not like cats
He makes sure that the elderly woman with dementia gets to church and Bible study every week.
He is always willing to inconvenience himself for others
He never minds going to the store or running other errands for us
He cheerfully helps to change the decorations each season
He takes out the trash barrels every Tuesday
He is very loyal
He always says thank you each night for the dinner I cooked
He finds the good in everyone
He recycles everything even bringing things home from other places to recycle
He always follows through with his commitments
He likes people
He is a good friend
He helps with my projects
He lets me volunteer him without checking with him first
He never seeks praise for the good things that he does
He fixed the shower so it does not leak on the floor
He is cheerful
He has a strong faith in the Lord and His goodness
He makes sure that the cars are maintained
He practices his faith"
One of the remarkable things about appreciation is that it is transferable. Unlike those tickets with warnings about not trying to scam the airline by handing it off to your sister, speaking your gratitude out loud, or in this case in print, not only blesses the speaker but everyone who hears. I feel good, and his efforts cannot even reach across the continent to benefit my swimming pool or cat. Neither of which I have one of. But magnanimity does not depend on such inconsequential details
as that. I am part of his sphere of influence simply from hearing about it.
I have proof.
Yesterday I spent an hour reading a book about dog miracles. You know, the search and rescue, and wake-up-the-house-is-on-fire variety. I was choked up, and I neither have a dog nor a lost child. But reading about the altruism and courage touched a place in my heart that hungers for such goodness. Especially when I have such a calamity heavy diet.
We begin every marriage group and each mentoring quartet with the invitation to express these blessings. I never get tired of it.
