My wife turns 40 today and Friday the 13th is a lucky day indeed. She is celebrating 40 years young with a wonderful future to look forward to.
It wasn’t that way last year. Last year at this time, she was angry and hurt, not knowing what the future might look like, but imagining it wouldn’t involve me or the life she had known for the past 13 years.
Growing up in her family was very different from growing up in my family, and birthdays were no exception. In my family, they were a special day, where the person who was having the birthday was excused from all chores, got to choose the evening meal, and was spoiled with gifts. I always looked forward to my wife’s birthday more than my own because I got to give her the royal treatment.
Last year, she was insistent that we were not celebrating her birthday and she didn’t want anything. Nevertheless, I arranged for us to go out to eat at a place we always enjoy and had two of our adult children meeting us there. I had bought a few small gifts that I snuck in and I discreetly let the server know it was her birthday.
We all laughed and had a great time as we ate together, presented her with gifts, and convinced our server to take some pictures. For an hour or so, the pain was pushed aside, and the reality that we truly are a great couple and have a great family took center stage.
This year, that reality is where we live every day. We are blessed beyond measure with a love that continues to grow and deepen. Tonight, my wife will be the princess of the ball, and at the stroke of midnight, she will be sleeping, safely wrapped up in my love.
The Restoration Tour 