My Husband's My Hero

Coffee Talk Thursday

Coffee and my husband--two of my favorite things. Today, I'd like to so something a little unusual and share with you all something a bit personal, the kind of thing perfect for a cup of coffee with friends (even if they are Internet friends) ;).

I thought I'd share with you why my husband is my hero. I'd like you to think about why your husband is (or was at one time) your hero too. It does one's soul (and marriage) good to recapture those memories and recreate those feelings.

This week, my husband talked to Rush Limbaugh on his radio show. I know, you either love him or hate him, but that's beside the point (speaking of beside the point...once, Justin tried listening to him on a mini-boom-box when I was in labor...with pitocin; that did not go over so well!). On Wednesday, Rush mentioned my husband's story in his morning update. I thought I'd give you the longer version.

At 18, my husband was all set for a bright future in rodeo. He accepted a full-ride college scholarship and was excited, like any 18 year old, about all that lay ahead. His dreams fell apart in an instant when he fell off a bronc, and the horse rolled over him like a somersault, crushing his spine in a million pieces. He lay on the arena floor, dying of shock. He told me he knew he had taken his last breath. It was so hard, he knew he wouldn't be able to do it again. People rushed to pray for him, and he was life-flighted to a major hospital, where doctors were able to stabilize him and repair his spine using custom-made rods. They did not know whether he would ever regain the ability to walk.

Knowing her son's determination, his mother brought him a pair of Nike tennis shoes.

Justin pushed himself and not only regained the ability to walk, he also summited the highest mountain in Wyoming, Gannett Peak (our first son is named Gannet). He could be sitting around collecting disability the rest of his life, but he has such a strong work ethic and goes to work as each day, despite chronic pain and severe nerve damage, to provide for his family and feel good about himself.

He is also one of the most giving people I've ever met. He's done so many things I admire, and he does them all with a foot of metal in his spine, yet he never complains. He sees the potential in every person and wants everyone to have an intentional vision for life: What do you want to do, what do you need to do to get there, and how can you help others? His story shows us all that no one--not even the most injured or disabled among us--should ever accept defeat.

Your husband's story is different, but it's just as incredible to you.  Or at least it was, at one time. The years can cause us to lose sight of the magic we felt the moment we discovered that in that man, we had found our other half, our soul-mate if you will. On this Coffee Talk Thursday, may you remember it all over again. (And you can share what you so admire about your husband here too, if you'd like).

Even if you're not married, you can still take something away from this discussion.  The Bible tells us God has good plans for our lives, that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. He has already given us the victory. We just have to walk in it.

Each day, we may not feel particularly victorious--after all, the days are all pretty ordinary. However, as we're faithful to do the ordinary things God lays in our path, day in and day out, we will find at the end of our lives that they were significant. God can be, will be, glorified in all things.