The Anniversary Gift

My wedding anniversary is this week. On Sunday morning, Paul gave me an early anniversary gift. We were in our usual 2nd row pew at church, and the 8:30 AM service was wrapping up with announcements. Then, there was a final announcement...from Paul. This was certainly an unexpected turn of events.

He went up in front of the congregation and began to talk of our marriage 15 years ago. He asked me to come forward and stand with him. I made my way to him and took his outstretched hand. As I stood there, he began to speak with a breaking voice of Proverbs 31. It began to dawn on me that he was not speaking generally of Proverbs 31, but he was quoting it. He had memorized two passages in order to honor me with these words:

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

Now, Paul has a history of not being able to keep a surprise from me. I was astonished that he had committed these verses to memory. Tears filled my eyes as he continued:

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things
but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The truth is that I am unworthy of these words. He is a much better husband than I am a wife. Wouldn't our families and churches be a much better place if every husband would love and cherish his wife in this way?