P4E.035 Tough

Here's the lyrics to a song sung by Craig Morgan currently #20 on the Country charts:

Tough
Monty Criswell/Joe Leathers

She's in the kitchen at the crack of dawn
Bacon's on, coffee's strong
Kids running wild, taking off their clothes
If she's a nervous wreck, well it never shows
Takes one to football and one to dance
Hits the Y for aerobics class
Drops by the bank, stops at the store
Has on a smile when I walk through the door
The last to go to bed, she'll be the first one up
And I thought I was tough

Chorus
She's strong, pushes on, can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

We sat there five years ago
The doctors let us know, the test showed
She'd have to fight to live, I broke down and cried
She held me and said it's gonna be alright
She wore that wig to church
Pink ribbon pinned there on her shirt
No room for fear, full of faith
Hands held high singing Amazing Grace
Never once complained, refusing to give up
And I thought I was tough

Chorus
She's strong, pushes on, can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

She's a gentle word, the sweetest kiss
A velvet touch against my skin
I've seen her cry, I've seen her break
But in my eyes, she'll always be strong

There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

I wonder how many of us husbands can relate? I know I can. Because Gwen and I minister to married couples in crisis, I can't tell you how many times I've heard the wife express that she sees her husband as a "wimp." Gwen has said the same thing about me and I acknowledge that I have been. "Wimpiness" takes the form of whining, complaining, shirking responsibilities, weakness, giving up, not facing up to difficult relational tasks. In short, all the excuses for not exercising leadership. We recently heard about an exhibition of horsemanship where three people were in the ring doing an intricately choreographed routine with their horses. Not unusual except that one rider had no legs, one had no arms and one was blind....What was my excuse again?

Our role-model as husbands to our wives is Jesus to His people when He said,

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Can I be that for my wife? That's my goal... Peace, Kim