A Letter to My Hard-Working Husband

To my precious husband…

I must admit, sometimes I wish things were different. I compare myself to others on social media and think…

“Wow, it was nice that her husband sent her flowers for no particular reason.”

“Oh, and how thoughtful to surprise her with tickets to that show.”

“He must really love her to go out and buy her those shoes she’s had her eye on.”

And the enemy creeps in and tells me I’m missing out on something. But you know what? I love us. I love who we are. I love who you are.

Because what you do isn’t often heralded on social media, and the world doesn’t see it.

They don’t see you work tirelessly all day and then come home and do a load of laundry while also cooking our dinner most nights.

They don’t see you spend your Saturday either helping me clean the house or doing needed projects outside, working so hard to make our house a home.

They don’t see that you comforted me when I lost my dog last year, even though you shed your own tears, or that you let me get another dog, even when you really didn’t want one. (And you haven’t given her away even after she slipped out the front door and you had to chase her around the neighborhood three times in one day.)

They don’t see you enjoying playing with our son outside, even after a hard day on the job.

They don’t see that you know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t want you to waste money on an expensive pair of shoes anyway.

They don’t see you make popcorn on the stove every night because you know it’s my favorite nighttime snack.

They don’t see your servant’s heart, and how you are always willing to help a friend (or even a stranger) in need. You are teaching our son what it means to love others.

They don’t see you get up early on Saturday and take care of our boy so I can have one morning to sleep in (because you know how much I love to sleep).

They don’t see you make chocolate chip pancakes for me on the weekend, even though they aren’t your favorite.

They don’t see you when we go to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner, and you jump right in and help in the kitchen. Or how you are always there for them, even burying their beloved dog for them when he passed.

They don’t see that with you, going to church is not an option. And you get up extra early to make sure you get in your quiet time with the Lord every morning.

They don’t see that you are faithful and loyal even when it is difficult and undeserved, because you hold to your commitments.

They don’t see that you are my biggest cheerleader, supporting my weight loss efforts, my dreams to be a writer, and even my desire to quit working full-time to be home with our son – even though the unknown future scares you a bit.

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I love that you are you. Even when you spend too much time talking to everybody after church and I just want to go eat lunch (because you are the social one in this relationship). Even with your little quirks like wearing two pairs of socks or needing all of your clothes to be on matching hangers. Even though your driving terrifies me sometimes and I wish you would use your turn signal more often.

I love you because you love me, even with all my faults and my crazy emotions that you don’t always understand. (“Bless,” as we would say.)

I love it all. Because all of it makes you you; and you are who I love. And no other husband on social media compares to mine.

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” – Song of Solomon 6:3

Love,