The Women You Married

 
My dear husband,

You've been married to a lot of women in the past 22 years....all of them me.

There was the new wife, teaching a room full of 1st graders, both of us educating children and learning how to be married.

Then came the pregnant months, carrying the baby we knew would never live, grieving and growing together.

I morphed into the "9-to-5" working wife with the office job, enjoying lunches downtown and battling traffic on the way home.

Then you woke up next to the new mom, so excited and uncertain of what she was doing.

The mom of two littles made it through the long days, holding it together until you got home each night.

Sending the girls off to school, helping with class parties, going on field trips filled the days until....

Homeschooling mom - who knew?!  It wasn't in our plans, but it's been our life these past few years.

And now you live with the mom of a teen and a pre-teen, trying to figure it all out as we go, recognizing the daily need for God's wisdom and grace.

Before we know it, I'll be the empty nester.

Yet you've loved all the women I've been.  You've always reassured me in my fears, listened to my rants, and kept me grounded.  You share in every joy and console in every sorrow.

You've lived with me and walked beside me and been more of a husband than I could ever have imagined.

I'm grateful.  And all of us - from the newlywed bride to the long-time wife - love you so very much.