An incredible 10 days

After having been in Missouri for 10 days or so, my wife is finally on her way back home and I couldn't be happier.

While I admit, going from having her home every minute of everday to being alone every minute of everyday (obviously that's not true, but when I stepped foot inside the empty house, it sure felt like that) was a bit of a transition at first, results that come from time spent alone were well worth it. I discovered a few things while she was away.

Most Happy Fella kept me pretty busy for the first weekend of my solitude, but after that was finished, I no longer had nightly commitments--it was just me. First thing I did was schedule lunch with an interesting person who I wanted to know better--the investment of time was well worth the resulting friendship. That conversation was the catalyst to some pretty intense Bible reading, which is something I had neglected for while (call it being busy, being tired, being distracted, it doesn't matter). Nightly scripture reading with constant talking to God (remember, it's just me in this house... what better time to talk with God), really allowed myself to quiet down enough to be able to listen and face demons that I knew had been lurking around.

One of the largest problems I faced within myself was my departure from my biblical duties as a husband. For 4 out of my 5 years of marriage, I had not been the spritual leader that I have been called to be. In that first year, every night, I would read a few chapters from the bible to my wife and together we would pray before going to bed, before eating, before traveling, etc. This was a central part of our relationship. But then, and I can't point to anything specific, perhaps I was lazy one night and didn't do anything, it stopped. I stopped leading. While I still prayed in solitude, my spiritual life became a private matter. I wasn't hiding anything, I just wasn't sharing.

But this week, this incredible week has been a transformation. I pray to God that he will give me the stamina and self-discipline to stick with this and not fall away because of fatigue or selfishness or embarassment or whatever else.

My wife is on her way home now, from what I understand. She has had an exhuasting week dealing with some family matters that have really needed to be dealt with, and while she is very happy to have had the opportunity to get it all finished for now, she is tired.

I thank God for His work and that in His vastness, He is loving enough to care about somebody so small. There are also some people this week who He worked through who deserve thanks as well, you know who you are *wink*.