Sunday Sentiments

 

This has been a week of the unexpected. The things that have happened haven't been horrible, but Ryan and I have had multiple occasions of finding ourselves in a plot-twist moment, with decisions before us. 

We rolled with each one, and it wasn't until the last one that I paused to appreciate anew the gift he is to my life. 

In that moment, my heart felt frazzled. Perhaps it was the weight of that one situation before us. Perhaps it was the fact that it was so far down the line of unexpected decisions we'd had to make in a short time. Whatever the reason (or combination of them), I wasn't confident. 

We were walking as this faltering-of-the-heart hit me, and I didn't say a word. I just tried to plod on while processing in my heart. He reached over for my hand and realized he had my bad hand. (Yes, the dog bite is still there. Better, but not healed.) He adjusted his grip in such a way that I knew he was supporting, comforting, and leading - all at once - yet simultaneously caring for my literal and figurative hurts.

I thought about it later. I thought about all the decisions we made this week. I thought about all the decisions we had to make for not only ourselves, but for our building. Our tenants. I thought about all the conversations and prayer that went into the moments that allowed time. I thought about all the on-the-go steps we took in tandem, knowing in our hearts what the other was thinking and falling in step to make it happen. 

We aren't perfect, and I am not trying to pretend we are. There are definitely times we miscommunicate and have to circle back to try again. But when I think about how much of our work and personal lives depend upon our ability to work well together, to sense reactions and decisions, and to be a team, I'm really grateful. And when I struggle to find my footing, I'm so glad he's there to take my hand - even the injured hand - and lead well.

We're in the first days of this tenth year of marriage, and I don't want to take him for granted. I want to hold tightly to the joy and wonder that I knew in those first days of marriage, when I couldn't believe God had allowed me to know in reality what I had prayed for so long.

So that's what I'm thankful for on this Sunday. This teammate of mine who always shows up to love and lead.