Husband

When God gave me Bern Thompson to be my husband, He did the finest thing He could have done for me. My husband is the safe-keeper of my heart, the deep and attentive listener to my words and the authentic lover of my whole self. I thank God for this wise, solemn and gentle man. I would not believe how blessed I have been if it were not for the fact that every day I wake up and there he is still, ready to live another day with me.

It was not good for this woman to be alone, so God created a helper for her.

I know that is a twist on the Genesis account of marriage, but it is my experience. God knew that I needed this man for my husband and He made sure that we met and married. I believe it has been a blessing for him, too.

Thank you, God, for Bern.

I love my husband.

Insatiable

This week Andrew and Whitney are coming back to California for a visit. We will see them for part of the time they are here. What I want is to inhale them, soak them up and see, hear and know everything I can about how they are and what they have been doing.

Friday Jonathan and Kristin are going to Uganda for two weeks. I want to see them off, greet them upon their return and know every detail of everything they experience and learn from God. I want to fly along with them and protect and strengthen them in their work. I will be breathing prayers for them every waking hour while they are gone. My fears and concerns will fuel my prayers.

Melody and Kevin are in a huge, life-changing process right now. They are choosing where Kevin will go to seminary. I am praying daily with them about this, knowing that the seminary they choose will influence the rest of their lives and ministry.

Matt and Stephanie are loving life, as far as I can tell, and they have a ton of friends and interesting daily experiences. I long to see more of that life and understand it better, but I am so glad that they are happy. They are contented, in love and doing well. What more could I ask for them?

This is how I think every day.

My children are never far from my thoughts. They swirl around in my head and I see them as they were as babies, children, teens and young adults. I recall their life histories and I relate it to where they are now. I remember their weddings and I think of our family gatherings. I can't help it. God created the heart of the mother with a compulsion to ponder and pray for her children....and so I pray for them, especially when I am going to see some of them or when something big is going on.

When I am with them, I am sublimely happy. When we are apart I think of them and pray---and, yes, I miss them---a lot.