I titled my blog Living by Grace as a Woman, Wife, and Mommy; so how fitting to talk about being a wife with Father’s Day coming up.

My husband and I have been married for 12 years. We have been blessed with two amazing sons and suffered a miscarriage during these 12 years. We have had incredible highs, and some lowest of lows; but one thing I know for certain, is that I have a great man of faith as the leader of our household.

Jason, did not sign up for this blog, and he did not sign up for the journey God is taking me on. He has had some hesitation and some valid concerns; ones that I did not consider when diving into this. I am being transparent about my life, my struggles, and joys and all those thing involve my husband and our family; and yet, he is stepping out in faith and being the husband Ephesians 5:25-28 says he should be:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

I hit rock bottom a few years ago, and Jason refused to leave my side. He leaned on Jesus during that time, and prayed diligently for me and our marriage. He  forgave me over and over and extended more grace to me than I deserved. He modeled what true forgiveness and unconditional love was, and made me a stronger woman, wife, and mother in doing so.

“If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent-not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” -2 Corinthians 2:5-7

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” -Matthew 18:21-22

This is the forgiveness that Jason extended to me. He became my rock, and God used him to lead me back to Him and my marriage.

I could not ask for a better father for our children. I thank his parents for that. His parents have been married for over 50 years and have raised 8 children, Jason being the youngest. The amount of love and respect he shows his parents is one of the many things that attracted me to Jason 16 years ago. I came from a divorced family and with that came a different perspective on marriage and family unity.

Jason is an ever present father. He loves his boys and shows affection to them daily. He has the right balance between fun and discipline. He currently is working two jobs to provide for them and me. Our boys respect their daddy, and think he is the funniest and goofiest man on the planet! The best way to describe what type of son and father Jason is, is through scripture:

“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’-which is the first commandment with a promise-‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:1-4

Jason, thank you. I don’t say that often enough. I sometimes feel that you don’t give yourself the credit you deserve; and I realize that is because you are a man of humility and incredibly selfless. You are like your father in that way. I know sometimes you doubt your faith and if you are “living up” to expectations. That is why I am dedicating this post to you. You are being the man God is calling you to be by your actions, support, unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace that you extend to all of us. Thank you for showing me what family means, thank you for modeling what a man of strength, faith, and character looks like to our boys, and thank you for making me a better woman by your leadership.

I love you. Happy Father’s Day.

By His Grace,

Your wife, Misty