I truly enjoyed this challenge, but little did I know when I started this challenge that the final week of the challenge would be so difficult. Finding out your spouse is deploying really causes one to think about what’s important.
Christine talks about how no marriage is perfect, and she’s right. It’s impossible for two imperfect people to create a perfect marriage. We do not live in a sinless world. Thankfully, God gives us a wonderful guidebook – the Bible – to help as we strive to live our lives to please Him.
What did the Bible say about what I needed to do in this situation? It certainly did not say that I should start freaking out and going on a tirade about how hard it would be on us. Nor did it say that I should create a huge list of things that I wanted done. No, the Bible tells me that I need to put my needs and wants aside. It tells me that I need to love him, honor him, respect him.
How could I love him, honor him, and respect him as we prepared for him to leave? I needed to focus on him and what he needed/wanted. That meant that a lot of other things were put aside. That meant that there are things that went undone around the house so we could have family movie nights. That meant that we went hunting for food that he could eat since I wouldn’t be able to prepare everything from scratch for him. It also meant that no matter how I was physically feeling this week, I put on a smile and did want needed to be done. I baked him yummy goodies and bread to take with him.
I feel like I let him down in many ways even though I know that he doesn’t feel that way. I think that one thing that I learned about with this challenge is that I’m often too hard on myself. I tend to forget that it’s ok to ask for help. (Yes, D will laugh and nod his head when he reads this). These types of things are really my downfalls when it comes to our marriage. These are things that I will need to continue to work on while D is gone.
It’s been an honor to participate in this challenge with other Christian women. It’s been an encouragement and challenge to me. Reading other participant’s posts have made me think about things that I want to improve in my own marriage. I want to thank everyone for being so open and honest as they worked in the marriages. I know that you all have blessed me as well as others.
What a sweet post. I have thought of you and your husband and am keeping you in our prayers. I am so thankful that God has blessed your efforts through this challenge and helped to give you peace during a difficult time. You are very wise in the way you blessed your husband prior to his deployment and I pray that God’s strength will stay with you. Blessings my friend.
Beautiful post. Thinking of and praying for you and your family.
Praying that the Lord continues to bless your marriage!
It has been a blessing reading about your progress this month! I can’t imagine how hard it is for you when your husband is deployed, but I do know I am thankful for his, and your, service and sacrifice.
I am always so encouraged when I come here and see the way that you fight to be a wife who serves and loves. The way you put your husband first and trust that God will be faithful to meet your own needs along the way.
I have been thinking of you all week. Like Christine said, I too am thankful for your family’s service to our country.
Kate
Dear Heather,
Beautiful post ! I am praying for you all. Have been so busy with things for my husband this weekend haven’t been on now I can catch up. Hugs and Love to you my sweet friend. May the Lord continue to bless you this week and always.
In his endless love,
Angel ():)
thanks so much for all of your sharing! My prayers are with you!
Alida
I will be praying for you, D and munchkin during this difficult time. Thank you for what you are doing. As Marine Corps vets, my dh and I understand what you are going through.