Joe and Jessa, November is the month when the ALS foundation honors care givers. I want to thank you for all the countless times when you fed me, helped me with my socks and shoes, wiped my nose, chased gnats out of my ears and picked me up when I fell down. You have been a tremendous blessing to my heart and I am grateful for your love. You have learned from the best! Your daddy is my Hercules, my Hero!
When your daddy and I were dating he read me the story about Robertson McQuilkin. He had been the president of Colombia International University. (See Video) He resigned from his position when his wife suffered from Alzheimers and needed his care. I thought that it was a sweet story but I knew that your daddy didn't like nursing homes, hospitals or even being around sick people. I knew that he would take care of me when we got married but I knew that he would be limited if I ever got sick. Little did I know!
Your daddy would have probably never volunteered to be a care giver, but what I have experienced is astounding. He is talented, driven, strong, compassionate, hard working, faithful, intelligent, creative, hilarious, tender, thoughtful, perceptive, and loving. There is no way that I ever thought that your daddy would have to brush my teeth, pick my nose, shave me, wipe my hind parts, deal with my time of month, or have to put a bib on me before he feeds me. Having to do this for someone else is uncomfortable and humbling to say the least. Your daddy has far exceeded any expectations that I ever had on him!
Your daddy reminds me of Hercules in the Disney movie. In attempting to prove that he was a
hero he demonstrated that he was one. He put the life of the one he loved before his own. Twenty four hours a day your daddy cares for me. Even when it is hard, overwhelming and breaks his heart. When no else sees all that he is doing, God does! He is watching your daddy demonstrate his God given love for me and that he has the heart of a hero. I can't wait to watch the Lord hug your daddy someday! Your daddy is going to have a heroes welcome and lots of crowns!
Ephesians 5:25-33
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Go the Distance