So in light of Dan's suggestion, here's my first post on being thankful, which is really written by my wife, who is the greatest blogger never once to blog. I'll take the "as told to" credit.For those who don't follow me on Twitter or FB, my kids have been sick all week -- the big one since Saturday, and the little one since about Wednesday after AWANA. Same stuff. Blech. And of course Mrs. Cent and I are now not feeling so hot ourselves, but I'm optmistic it's just the lack of sleep and not the other stuff.
But last night my wife said to me, "I'm grateful that our kids are sick." And since I am the Drunken Master®, she can't trick me like that, so I said, "Tell me more.""I'm in there, cleaning [graphic detail omitted], and every time there's a [graphic detail omitted], I know that the child is alive, and that God has given this child to me as a gift, and that He knows what's best for both of us. And I'm glad I can do something about this which the child understands. So I'm grateful."
Many of you do not have a spouse like this (she does not have a spouse like this), so you may admire her from a distance.
23 comments:
That's the kind of "thanking" that goes far beyond the norm.
Thanks for sharing. Lord bless the Cent kids. Amen.
Isn't it great to marry up?
She's human right? :) Admiring...
Let her know that if the kids have the same virus I have, it'll last two full weeks. That'll REALLY encourage her.
I just want to point out that the CORRECT and APPROPRIATE graphic for my wife has been forbidden for the sake of the weaker brothers, but that THAT GRAPHIC was proof that she is FAR MORE than human.
The one which this post now sports is, at best, a pale imitation.
Phil --
the big one already seems over it, so we're also grateful that it's not the life-altering brush with death which you have just experienced.
However, I am still sort of vexed at you for not taking advantage of the froggy throat it gave you to make some really boss prank phone calls.
that's hardcore thankfulness.
I'm thankful for my wife too, and she certainly has superpowers, but cleaning up unmentionables is not one of them - and I can't say I'm so thankful for that.
What's funny about this post is that one got sick after AWANA's. Parents LOVE hearing about that the day after - very humbling to be a viral source.
My youngest daughter was famous for coming to my side of the bed, poking me on the shoulder so I would turn over, and then (omitting) all over me. If nothing else, I am thankful that she has stopped doing that.
Blessings on you and your family.
al sends
I greatly appreciate your wife's Phil. 4:8 attitude and example! Our youngest has been sick since early Wed. morning, but nothing as significant as what you described. Nevertheless, the opportunity to minister and to thank God is priceless and sanctifing. Blessings to you and your dear wife!
I'm certainly grateful for my wife. I hear many men who talk about how unreasonable their wives are. My wife is pretty reasonable. On top of that she often places the needs of others before her own needs. I mentioned this among a group of Christian brothers last night as we met to pray and several praised their own wives similarly. I can't say that I've been a great husband, but my wife comes to me after having heard the drama in the households of old friends and tells me how thankful she is for me. Only by the grace of God.
I'm grateful to God for my wife, and I'm grateful to Him for His longsufferingness, instructing me lo these many years as to how deep and how wide the extent of what it is that I should be grateful for.
I'm convinced that the reason we have not yet had one of those infamous all-family sickouts,
is that I am truly not yet godly and mature enough to handle it that way.
But now I at least have a script to follow should it ever happen.
So now I'm very thankful for your wife too. :)
Wow. Must be the season for everyone to be sick :o(
Not fun.
Kudo's to Mrs. Cent.
I hear vitamin D3 helps strengthen the immune system against viral.
H
Rachel,
You're a novice mom until the first time you catch projectile (graphic detail omitted) in your hands. Then your full fledged mom. Don't worry, it happens to everyone.
Ugh... catching it in your hands. Been there.
@PaulD - we put Son #1 on an airplane with his aunt and uncle for a much-anticipated trip to Disneyland, and later that afternoon Son #3 started with the headache-fever-throwing-up.
Lots of prayer went up for that trip!
I'm sure I don't have Mrs. Cent's class, but I'm trying...
Julie
You think YOUR wife is amazing... MINE has to live with ME. That's clearly enough to win her at least a Nobel... er... no, uh, some other prize that IS still worth something!
Thank you for the post, and I thank God for the grace He gives our wives.
A Nobel, eh?
I know a place where, if she orders the Shrimp Taco....
Yeah, I did go to BibChr today. Did not comment, yet. But, I definitely enjoyed the H & T. Too bad the wife does not enjoy the seafood. Sounds like a deal.
Not trying to stir the hornets too much here, but isn't it interesting that posts that even hint at the topic of election or Calvinism garner 100 comments threads, but mention giving God thanks and we're still scraping for 20 lo these 36 hours later.
SandMan, good point :). Maybe it's just that folks don't feel that posting a simple "Amen!" is appropriate :).
Silence from the peanut gallery doesn't mean that folks aren't reading and benefiting :).
@ Sandman,
Especially interesting are the facts that
~Calvinism is simply a fallible, man-made framework by which some try to explain their understanding of God
~election is something only God controls
~thankfulness is required by God of all men at all times, yet we (me especially) sadly fail at this more often than not.
(sigh)
Heather
Sir Brass,
I agree.
Silence doesn't mean that no one cares.
But of all people, we Christians ought to be oozing gratitude at all times.
I mean---we're SAVED!
(insert Snoopy-style "happy dance")
:oD
H
@ Sir Brass,
I am sure that you have it right... and gracious of you to suggest a reasonable explanation that believes the best in others. Thanks for pointing that out.
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