A loving husband

I know for a fact that my husband loves me.  Not just loves, either.  I know that he cherishes me.  He doesn't want to live without me.  He likes being with me and wishes we could be together more often.

I might get irked with him because he plays a little too much shooty-whatever-it-is on the Xbox or grumbly because he left socks on the bathroom floor for me to pick up.  But when it comes down to it, I know that this man would lay down his life for me.  He's not perfect, but the love and commitment he feels for me are near it.

No matter what happens:  whether it's some other crazy health thing or reduced income or kid troubles, I know that I can count on him.  He's with me:  he's not going anywhere, and he loves me.  With that, I can face anything (with him at my side).  That, my friends, is golden.

I happened to drop into a local shop yesterday and was stunned to find out about the troubles of an acquaintance.  In addition to unemployment, nasty neighborhood hoodlums ruining her gardens and vandalizing her shop, she's got an unloving husband.  He's unhelpful and snide, and inconsiderate and mean.  Instead of celebrating her on Mother's Day, he chided her son for getting her flowers.  It breaks my heart, especially because she's thinking of leaving this loveless union.

I don't know what has happened between them.  But it hurts to the core to think of these two who have grown apart to the extent that they're only wanting to wound each other.  Would you lift them up in prayer, these two, and all those in troubled marriages?  Would you, too, think of your blessings in marriage, and ask God's blessing on your loving husband?

May God help those two put aside their hurts and think of unity and selflessness.