Monday, January 29, 2007
A Servant Leader
Well,I didn't have to take a long blogging break after all...I am feeling much better today. My fever began going down on Sunday. I am still stuffy feeling and coughing some,but,thankfully God has been so very kind to me by allowing this to be short lived. My 2 oldest children began to get better over the weekend,too. The little ones are not running fever anymore,but they have both been waking up at night coughing. They seem to still have the upper respiratory part of the virus going on. The worst part is over! Thank you for your prayers!!!It is times like these that I see my husband shine as a servant leader for our home. He has taken such good care of us all. With me being sick in bed with fever,he has been the one to take care of all the children and their needs over the weeekend...this means getting up multiple times during the night to give meds,put blankies back on,or rock back to sleep. He has also prepared a few meals,cleaned the house,and gone to the grocery store(he does this for us a lot anyway-he does not allow me to go to Wal-Mart). He has brought me warm decaf hot tea,thera flu,tylenol in the middle of the night when my body aches were miserable,and all I could do was say...medicine,please.(I am a big baby,I know!)
But,this is not a surprising thing to me. He has always put aside his own desires for me...since we first met back in 1987... I was a college student at the University of Arkansas,about to move into the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. It was in the summer and I was home from college working 3 jobs to help pay for whatever extra money I would need for the following year...he was a new guy in town,just out of school,beginning his practice in our small town. I would love to tell our whole story sometime,it would make this post way too long. I can say that even when we first met,he was a gentleman and I knew right away he was very different from all the other guys I knew. Very little did I really know about how giving and self sacrificing he would be.
I have been pregnant 4 times. Every time I was sick. Really sick. I never ended up in the hospital or anything,but I had to take meds to function. I remember once with my third pregnancy,throwing up 12 times in 3 hours,while trying to teach history to my young elementary age girls. The sickness began about 6 weeks into the pregnancy and ended the day I delivered the babies. I even threw up the day of delivering,then after the baby was born I was right back to normal and could not wait to eat! Those 8 months or so of sickness were very hard for me. My husband took care of me the whole time. Every morning at about 5:30 am or 6am,he would get up and make me something to eat...usually something very unhealthy like a toaster streudel or whatever sounded good,at my request. Junk food was all I wanted during my pregnancies. I had to force healthy foods down. This is not normal for me...I usually love healthy foods! Anyway, he would give me my medicine,too. I needed to do this that early,so the medicine would begin working and I could get myself out of bed to start my day. He did this everyday for 8 months during 4 pregnancies. He served me without complaining...putting aside his own desire to sleep,so that I could feel somewhat better. He also did a lot more during my pregnancies to make life a little easier for me. I am so grateful for that!!!
He has shown a servant's heart in many ways over the years:
1) He spends long periods of time with the 2 older girls at night,praying with them and discussing important issues. Since we have had more children,he has wanted this to be his time with the girls. He does this EVERY night.
2) He leads our family with his wisdom...guiding us as we homeschool,grading Gracie's long essays and Geometry late at night,leading our family worship time, and instructing and disciplining our children.
3) He works very hard for us...and that is why he does it,for us. When he was in ninth grade,he knew what he wanted to do with his life. I asked him early on in our relationship why he chose this career,knowing it is one of the most stressful jobs out there...he said he knew that it would provide well for his future family and it would give him normal office hours so he could be home with his family. He was thinking of us even way back then!
4) He goes to Wal-Mart for us...I know this is really my job,and I feel really bad that he does this...but,he insists that he does not want me to go to Wal-Mart by myself or with the children. He doesn't think it is safe. I do the weekly grocery shopping at a small store close to our home,but when we need a lot...he goes.
5) He has always been very protective of me and the children. He knows when I am doing too much and makes me stop...he sees when I am getting flustered and says,take a break...he makes sure we are safe at all times...I don't know about you,but that makes a woman feel secure,knowing that your husband is protecting your time,your physical well being,and your overall safety.
I'm sorry to be going on and on,but after being sick,God has just given me a grateful heart towards my husband for all he does. He does not just do these things when I am sick, but truly ALL THE TIME.
Thank You,M,for being such a wonderful husband and for always serving us first. I can never repay you. I am so blessed by your servant heart! I love you.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
23 Comments:
Hi Kim!!
I'm glad that you are feeling better!! Being sick is NO fun!
Your husband sounds like a gem!!! What a blessing!!
Congratulations on your nomination!! You definitely have a GREAT blog!! I know I've received much encouragement from you!
His,
Mrs. U
It is rare to find these qualities in men today. What a blessing to you and what a wonderful example for your childre. Your girls will have a high level of expectation of what to look for in a potential mate--which they should. And your son has a wonderful mentor as he grows to manhood.
What a grateful heart...you are indeed very blessed. I am so happy you are feeling better!!
Laura
So glad you're better!!
What a wonderful man you've been given. I hope Jack Henry's just like him. Shall we go ahead and arrange something? ;)
I love the special time that he has carved out for your daughters. They not only have this wonderful relationship with their dad but a beautiful model of what a Godly husband looks like. He has set the bar high and your girls will never lower their standards. Glad you all are on the mend :)
What a sweet post! Your husband sounds wonderful... what an amazing example he is setting for your children!! Glad you are feeling better. Hope those little ones are back to normal again soon!
Jennifer R.
So glad to hear you are starting to be on the mend.
Your husband is a rare breed indeed. What a blessing to know you can count on him and what a wonderful example to his children of what a Godly husband and father is.
It is such a tremendous blessing to "meet" a woman who realizes and appreciates how rare a husband she has. Nothing is quite as defeating as a wife of a wonderful man griping about his small faults. God has blessed you greatly and it's nice you know it!
You are blessed!
What a good thing to express your thankfulness!
I am glad you are on the mend.
So glad you are feeling better, Kim.
Your husband sounds wonderful and such a blessing. I love that he goes to Wal-Mart!! He's definitely a keeper! :)
Hello, Kim
Wow! You've all been through a lot in the past week. So glad that your family is recovering.
Your lovely post about your husband resonated with me because, even though I must now realize that God really DID'nt "break the mold" when He made my husband, I understand the love, respect, and affection with thankfulness that you bear for your husband.
Congrats on your nomination! I loved your banner as soon as I laid eyes on it; a shelf full of books always gets my attention!
: )
Thank you for stopping by today and saying "hello."
I'll be back! : )
So, so glad you are feeling better!!! That's huge as a mommy!!!
And your husband sounds like he takes his Biblical mandate as husband and daddy seriously (I say this in knowing that he does!!)! Praise the Lord for such a servant leader for you and your family!!!
Beautiful tribute, Kim. What a rare and tenderhearted warrior God has given you. Your daughters have a wonderful example set before them, and they will choose a mate based on this servant leader in their own home.
p.s. So glad to hear you are feeling better!
Hi Kim,
I just want to say thank you for always, "stopping by" at my blog!! You are so sweet and such an encouragment.....I don't get online often, but wanted to say that I really look up to you and am so glad that we have "meet" in this blogging world!!! :)
So glad you are feeling better! Begin a sick mamma is no fun and hard on the household. So glad that God has blessed you with a hubbie willing to pitch in, a true gift from God!!
In His Love,
Liz
Hi Kim...this is my first visit to your blog, and I just wanted to let you know I'm really impressed with it! I love "discovering" great blogs that are new to me. Keep up the great work!
Happy to hear that the worst is over for the cootie-bug in your house! You are so blessed with your sweet hubby. God is good!!! (I have one of those rare gems in my precious man, too. I know not everyone can boast in this blessing. I count it a HUGE blessing from God's heart!)
I am so glad you and your crew are feeling better again.
Your husband sounds PERFECT!! What a blessing. Even better, what an example your children have in choosing a mate.
Oh my goodness, this is so sweet and he sounds like such a wonderful husband and father. All of your examples are proof of that!
So glad you are feeling better!
(I'm new to your blog, but I just love it!) :)
Such a sweet post. How blessed you are to have such a husband with such a servant's heart. I can't believe the story of your pregnancies. How wonderful that you had him to care for you.
Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
~Rebecca
Beautiful post, Kim and I am so glad you are feeling better. congrats on your nominations too! Well deserved. :)
What a wonderful testimony about your husband. I am blessed with a caring and giving husband as well. I also wanted to write and say that I was sick 24/7 for my entire pregnancy as well, and could only eat food that wasn't very healthy. And it all went away the day my son was born, and it was all worth it! I am glad you are feeling better
Wonderful tribute to your man! Glad you are feeling better.
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