That's Why I Married Him

"A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason - and indeed all the sweets of life. - Joseph Addison

After more than twenty years, my husband still amazes me.  He loves people...really and truly loves people.  In his line of work, he's always giving and pouring himself out.  And honestly, it wears me out to watch it.  Seriously, sometimes I wonder what's wrong with me, and I ask myself, "How can I be that hard-hearted...or plain selfish?"

Just yesterday it happened again.  We rolled out of bed early, early Saturday morning to be on the road to Savannah by 7am.  While he met with the board of directors at a pregnancy center there, Hannah, Victoria and I took care of some shopping that can only be done in Savannah or Jax.  After a whirlwind shopping adventure, we picked Patrick up and headed home...or so I thought.  He suggested a couple more stops and on the way home I half-heartedly mentioned that we could still squeeze in a workout at the Y.  He was up for it.  I resigned myself to it.

Then on the way home from the Y, a stop at Target AND the office, a thought popped into my head.  "We really need to call so-and-so to check on her."  Patrick hopped right on the idea and suggested I call and ask her to go to dinner.  Ummm...I was pretty tired by that point and quickly put the breaks on that thought.  It had been a long day right.  I had nothing left to give out, right?

We arrived home and guilt got the better of me.  I conceded we should call her (it was already 6pm) and see if she wanted to "do dinner".  Patrick wasted no time, called and caught her in the middle of carrying a bowl of soup to the table. Of course the soup could be refrigerated and yes, she'd love to join us.  I groaned but told myself I could rally.

Turns out, this dear friend had been feeling low.  Yesterday was the 2 month anniversary of her husband's death, and she had spend 2 days working through paperwork and really had wanted to get out of the house.  She'd made several attempts to arrange dinner plans to no avail.  She had resigned herself to dinner alone when Patrick called.  My husband's invite was balm to her soul.

I sat there at dinner thoroughly ashamed of myself ---ashamed that I'd almost deprived this precious lady of much needed fellowship, and ashamed that I sometimes get irritated with Patrick's go-get em attitude.

Thankfully someone in this marriage is endowed with sense and reason...and a heart that keeps on giving.  I don't know where I'd be without him.

How 'bout you?  What's something about your spouse that sometimes irritates you, but really is a gift to your marriage?