Forty-Three Things I Love about My Wife of 43 Years!

Today (June 5th) is our 43rd wedding anniversary!  So I spent some time thinking about my wonderful wife Linda.  Here are some of her qualities that jumped out at me:

1.  Her sense of humor
2.  Her love language of giving
3.  Her absolute commitment to the Lord
4.  Her heart for broken people
5.  Her entrepreneurial spirit
6.  Her industriousness
7.  Her innate sense of direction
8.  Her professionalism in her job
9.  How cute she looks driving her miniCooper convertible
10.  Her support of me in my ministry
11.  Her encouragement for me to be active in sports (within limits)
12.  Her steadfastness in the face of life’s challenges (house fire, heart surgery, etc.).
13.  Her commitment to personal fitness
14.  Her enthusiasm when she gets a bargain at a garage sale
15.  Her excitement when she gets a good buy at Loft or Ann Taylor
16.  Her love of almond chocolate coconut ice cream from Bruster’s
17.  Her enjoyment of sharing a good steak, sweet potato, and Caesar’s salad from Outback
18.  Her love of her mother
19.  Her absolute affection for her four grandchildren
20.  Her ability to bring out the best in me
21.  Her belief that prayer really matters — and makes a difference
22.  Her enjoyment of whomping me at Scrabble
23.  Her absolute love of black cherries
24.  Her desire to take a cruise to Alaska
25.  Her openness to God’s leading in her life
26.  Her ability to laugh at herself (using Raid to polish the dining room table — she didn’t have her glasses on)
27.  Her love of black licorice
28.  Her sheer pleasure in going to the beach
29.  Her love of tradition (a trip to Charleston must include crispy flounder at Hyman’s followed by a couple of praline cookies down the street)
30.  Her love of a serious cup of coffee (Starbucks, please)
31.  Her unconditional love for “adopted” family members
32. Her longing to see others walk with Christ.
33.  Her growing in her own faith.
34.  Her commitment to exercise in her sixties!
35.  Her love of Trader Joe’s salad dressing
36.  Her longing that her children and grandchildren become people of faith.
37.  Her penchant for finding new places in the house to lose her glasses.
38.  Her compassion for the broken and bruised.
39.  Her joy in giving to others.
40.  Her love of a good bargain.
41.  Her hearty — and honest — laughter at her husband’s humor when he preaches.
42.  Her ability to talk to anyone about almost anything.
43. Her joy in growing old(er) with me.