Every love story has its unique qualities, unusual beginnings, and its own charm. We begin a romantic relationship with great expectations and hopes, but we find too many faults in our lovers or in ourselves, and ultimately a great love relationship loses momentum, fails, ends.
Loneliness causes us to make romantic choices we ordinarily wouldn't make. It was just so with me. I was involved with a man who turned out to be 19 years older than me, and since I already have a father and wasn't looking for another, I knew that relationship had to end. At the same time, I was involved with a singles group through church, and we were going to have a retreat, a retreat I didn't want to attend but had to attend since I was one of the presenters. The Friday of the retreat was cold and snowy; I spent a miserable day at the retreat center, waiting for some of the other members to show up. I did a great deal of introspection as well, and I decided that my life needed some changes, including dumping the 'boy'friend.
That retreat, however, changed my life. As the evening drew to a close and the snow picked up, a pickup roared into the parking lot. Several guys emerged, whooping and hollering with joy, having made it to the retreat house in the snow. They stomped into the meeting room, loud and snowy, but lifting everyone's spirits. The man I was introduced to, the owner of the loud pickup, changed my life. As we shook hands, it was just like in the movies...I couldn't tell where my hand ended and his began. Our eyes met and spark happened. It was the oddest sensation.
From that moment, we fit together perfectly. It was like two halves coming together to make a whole. We shared much in common, but we celebrated our differences. Our connection was immediate and solid, so much so, we were engaged within four months of meeting and married seven months after that.
My husband gives me much to be grateful for; he supported my decision to get my master's degree. He took care of me when I spent 20 weeks on bedrest while pregnant with our child, and then he spent another six weeks after that helping me as I recovered from my pregnancy and delivery. He's cared for me through surgeries, and he's held me as I cried when those I loved have died. He listens to me complain about school, and sometimes he surprises me with visits when I'm working.
We've had an array of trials and struggles throughout the past twelve years, but we persevere. We have one another, and while there are days we annoy each other, there are many more filled with love and friendship and laughter. My husband understands me and does his best to anticipate my needs and wants. I appreciate who he is and give thanks each day for him. We don't demand much of one another, which makes it easy to willing and freely give to the other.
While Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all our blessings, my greatest blessing is my husband (followed immediately by my child--who wouldn't be possible without my husband!). I am truly grateful for him.
