My Excellent Wife

Proverbs 31:1

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.

...............

In honor of my lovely wife's birthday, I wanted to publish a little poem I wrote years ago.  Each stanza correlates to the major points of Proverbs 31.  Donna has been and continues to be a rich fountain of blessing in my life.  By God's grace, I am learning how to put this into words, and I am grateful for her patience in that :)  

Love you Babe!

My Excellent Wife (Valentine's Day - 2010)

All of my life, I had searched for the one

To meet all of my needs and fulfill all my heart, 

But so little I knew of love’s mysterious nature: 

A fire that starts with the smallest of sparks, 

Or a jewel that takes eons of pressure to form 

From the hard bitter earth, into beauty unknown.

When I gave you my hand, I gave you this vow:

“I will never let go, no matter what comes,

If the earth should shake us and break to the bone,

Your hand will remain in mine all along.”

I trust you with all of my heart and my life.

I will never regret that I made you my wife.

For all that you’ve done has showered me, dear,

With the blessings of love and of joy and good-living.

And everyday since, I have drawn from that clear

Flowing stream of good fortune – you never stop giving.

You may think that you never do all that you should,

But I’m telling you now – all you’ve done me is good.

Till your hands were both raw & your back was all bent,

And your rest was all stolen with eyes full of tears,

You labored until all of your strength had been spent,

And not just for days, but now year upon year.

I could never repay all the wages I owe

To the wife of my youth who has sacrificed so.

From calls on the phone that last deep through the night,

To baking a treat for a dear troubled friend,

To our plans to bring a child from darkness to light,

You have sought to bring poverty soon to an end,

And rescue the lost, one heart at a time.

What a mercy that I can now call your love mine.

You had thought it was I who would solely provide,

And bring purpose, protection, and food to our table,

But this correction to you I must humbly confide:

It is you who have proven to be clearly so able.

In the sewing and crafting each day all alone,

We have purchased a house, but you’ve made it a home.

In each smile that passes between you and I,

In the squeals of laughter that run down the hall,

In the honor, respect, and deep trust of your friends,

You can hear a loud choir of praises from all:

“Many women have put on an excellent show,

But you stand apart in a class all your own.”

And, it’s not merely all of the deeds that you do,

Or the fact that you sacrifice again and again,

But deeper than that is a heart that beats true

To the rhythm of grace that has overcome sin.

In the fear of the Lord you have genuine beauty,

So I praise you, my wife, my friend…my Cutie.