October is a very special month for me and my husband. Every year, the dawning of October brings with it a tidal wave of emotions. Not only did we get married in October, but my husband also had open heart surgery in October. You can probably relate to the anniversary excitement; however, the open heart surgery part, might be a little more difficult to understand. But, that surgery literally saved his life! I can’t really think of a better reason to LOVE the month of October and to call to mind all the reasons why I LOVE my husband!
Seven Reasons Why I Love My Husband
I love my husband because he is my Biggest Cheerleader.
My husband bleeds encouragement. He has been my biggest fan (aside from my Mom) since the first day we met. He believes in me in ways that I have trouble putting in to words. No matter what hair brain idea I might have (and I’ve had a lot of them) he always puts his faith in me. Russ challenges me in the best ways. He knows what I’m capable of and he doesn’t let me quit or settle for less than my best. Even when I want to throw in the towel, he is always there, pushing me towards the finish line.
Russ has always been my faithful encourager. I have loved this about him since day one, however, I did not realize that this is NOT a quality that every husband possesses or does well. After hearing stories from other women, I now have a much greater respect and appreciation for this quality in my husband. Just when I thought I couldn’t love my husband more…I can!
I love my husband because he has the heart of a Servant Leader.
From the very beginnings of our relationship, Russ has always had the heart of a true servant leader. He has a contagious passion for truly loving people. Helping and serving others is fuel for my husband’s spirit. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for another. He is a servant leader in our home, in his business, through our church community and beyond. I know I sound bias (afterall, he is MY husband) but I cannot tell you how many times people approach me to compliment the genuineness and generosity of his heart. Russ freely gives of his time, talents and treasures whenever there is a need and most often without being asked. One of the greatest lessons he has taught our children, through the way he lives his life, is the deep desire to serve others, rather than be served. Entitlement has no place in Russ’s life. He is a beautiful role model for what the hands, feet and heart of Jesus looks like on Earth.
I love my husband because he is the Calm to my Storm
It is true what they say, opposites do attract! One of the reasons I love my husband is because he exudes an overwhelming sense of calm and peacefulness. I’ll admit, sometimes his calm demeanor makes me CRAZY!!! Everything about him is one big ball of calm, from his word choice down to his tone. I don’t even think he knows how to yell! But in the end, I’m so thankful for it. Whether it’s his calm response to an injury or an unexpected circumstance in our lives, I can always count on him to be the calm in the storm. Now, I’m sure you have already assumed that my demeanor is almost the polar opposite. I am a lot of things, but calm is NOT one of them! As I grow in my personal relationship with Christ, this is something that I am working on. But for Russ, this calmness is an innate quality. Appearing effortless to me (which can also be infuriating in the moment.) However, it is a gift.
I love my husband because he is Mr. Positivity
Russ takes the saying “glass half full” to an entirely different level. This is one of the very first things I noticed about him, during our early dating days. At first, I thought to myself, this HAS TO BE an act! I have NEVER met anyone in my life who is genuinely this positive and upbeat all the time. As time passed, I came to realize this is truly who he was, the essence of his core! There is NOTHING fake or disingenuous about this man that I love! Don’t take my word for it either. Ask anyone that knows him!
Russ and I worked in the same organization for the first year of our relationship. Fortunately for me, he made an exception to his firm policy that “you don’t get your honey where you get your money!” I got to see him in action on a daily basis. Russ is a blessing to every person he comes in contact with. He approaches every situation and interaction with the same posture of positivity. Some days, I swear he must eat sunshine and unicorns for breakfast! He has pure joy coursing through his veins and it can be seen and felt in every interaction that he has. I admit, this is another one of those qualities that can be really annoying, especially on the days that you just want to let loose and vent. But, it’s just another reason why I love my husband.
I love my husband’s Work Ethic
My husband is a work horse! It doesn’t matter what he is doing, he will do it to the very best of his ability! From doing dishes to digging ditches, Russ truly loves to work hard. As an endurance athlete, Russ has this sick desire to push himself to his limits…to see what he is made of. He turns every task into some kind of personal competition. If sweating was an Olympic event, he would have a gold medal every time! His internal drive is second to none! Russ is incredibly detail oriented and has this unique gift and ability to figure out just about anything! He has a childlike curiosity about ALL things (which makes going to a museum with him FUN…only if you LOVE museums) Russ is a problem solver. He loves a challenge. I swear I married MacGyver. I haven’t found anything that Russ cannot do…and if he can’t do it, he will find a way!
My husband is an Amazing Dad
Russ is the perfect blend of father and fun! Don’t get me wrong, he is definitely the FUN parent. I think every household needs one. I just wish I could borrow the role sometimes! He is an amazing example of what it means to parent by example. Russ is a beautiful role model for our two children. He is crazy in love with our kids and shows them in big and small ways daily. Even though Russ owns his own business and works long, hard hours, his first priority (second to God of course) is his family. My husband has this beautiful ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world when you are with him. He is always present and available for our children. He makes quality time a priority. Whether he is playing a game of scrabble, wrestling with our son or riding bicycles, he is ALL IN! Russ takes his role as a Dad very seriously and he intentionally tries to become a better father each day. I can only pray that one day, my daughter will grow up to marry a man just like her daddy and that my son will grow up to be the kind of man and Dad that Russ has been to him.
I love my husband’s Heart for Jesus
I saved the biggest and best reason of why I love my husband for last. Above all else, Russ’s heart is for Jesus. Over the last thirteen years, I have had the honor and privilege of watching Russ grow in his faith. I have watched his heart transform. As I mentioned earlier, Russ has always had a HUGE heart of gold. However, it hasn’t always been a direct result of his relationship with Jesus. My husband grew up in church, with a healthy head knowledge of who God was, but didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus until several years ago. A lot of people who know Russ are always shocked to hear this… but, it’s the truth. When God, through Jesus, became more real in Russ’s life, it overflowed into every area of who he is. My husband is a beautiful example of what Christ’s love for the church looks like. Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ has made him an even more amazing husband and father. He now can give his marriage and his children, the greatest gift of eternal significance, the gift of faith.
My Challenge to You
As we approach fourteen years of marriage, it’s become overwhelmingly obvious, that having a great marriage requires commitment and intentionality. I would challenge you today to take some quiet time and really think about the reasons that you love YOUR HUSBAND! If life in your home is anything like mine, on most days, I know it can feel like a three- ring circus. But, don’t let another day go by without doing this! I challenge you to go a step farther and actually share your sentiments with your spouse! Telling your husband all the reasons why you love him, might just be the greatest gift you can give him today!
My husband is truly one of life’s greatest blessings. I thank God each and every day for the gift he gave me in having Russ as my husband. There is no one I would rather pedal in tandem through life with. We have lived a lot of “life” in fourteen years of marriage. I can honestly say that every day spent with Russ gives me more reasons to love my husband!
Leave a Reply