Why I Love This Man

On the way home from running errands today, my husband stopped on the side of the road, as he has done many times since we have been married and helped a fellow human being in need.

This time it happened to be a woman who was attempting to change a tire with a physical handicap that made it nearly impossible for her to do so. As I sat in the truck with my son watching the sun and wind play with the tall grasses of the field we were next to it struck me just how many times he had done this. I had the wonderful opportunity yet again to explain to my children the compassion and generous nature of their father.

Even if we had been running late on our way to an appointment he still would have stopped. That is just one of the many things that I admire about him. After about twenty minutes, having successfully sent the woman on her way, he came back to the truck wiping the grease from his hands with a big smile on his face. I just love this man.

I remember the time he stopped at a busy four way intersection and helped push a dead car off the road while impatient drivers honked and tried to go around him unaffected by the scene. The time he stopped to pick up a few big bricks that had fallen off of something that was slowing down rush hour traffic. If I remember correctly someone was honking and flinging profanity on that one even though what my husband was doing was actually going to allow him to keep driving and make his right hand turn. Or the many times that he gave stranded drivers a road side jump. He never makes a big deal out of it but he always has the same slight smile when the job is finished. Watching him makes my heart feel warm and full.

It is the same smile that comes each time he buys lemonade from the kids in our neighborhood or a neighborhood miles away. Lemonade, Cool-Aide, Oreos, you name it, he's stopped for it. With a smile and a chuckle it brightens all of our days. Don't even get me started on the number of Girl Scout cookies that comes in to this house on a yearly basis. My husband is a truly caring man under his macho swagger and serious gaze.

What I love most is that he truly leads by example. He doesn't lecture his sons on how to be better men, he shows them in the little things he does each and every day. I have no doubt that they will grow to have deep respect, compassion and tolerance for most people they meet. He would give you the shirt off of his back if you really needed it but don't you dare talk bad about your wife, hurt your children or abuse drugs or alcohol and expect him to even give you a second look. He has no time for a person like that. As his deep voice would say; "I have no time for stupid people." He is a man of deep convictions.

I am fortunate. I am surrounded by women that endure so much by selfish men. I may have to bite my tongue occasionally and pick up his socks or the newspaper for the fiftieth time but those things really don't matter to me. What matters is that I have a husband that I can respect and trust.