Karen, you are the wind beneath my wings

 

Image by Timisu on Pixabay

I dedicate the song below these thoughts to my wife, Karen, the love of my life next to God. The strength of God’s love inside of you is the wind beneath my wings. Thanks for being with me through the storms of life with your constant love.

Karen challenges and encourages me to be the best I can be for God. She has done much to help me heal from child abuse. Like my mother and my dear brother, Dr. Titus McMillan, she shows me that I’m more than I think I am. After many years I’m finally starting to believe it.

I’m thankful for the friends, family, and colleagues who walk with us through times of joy and sorrow. When life gets rough and you can’t see your way out of the darkness, that’s when you find out who truly cares about you.

I offer this suggestion to husbands: Guys, tell your wives who do this for you, that they are strong when you need to be caressed and held. With all the craziness in this world, you feel safe in their arms.

Karen, you were there for me through ten anaphylactic and many asthma attacks. My sweet rose, thanks for sitting on hard ER chairs praying I’d be alive in the morning. They sure don’t make them for comfort. Thank you for being there in the best and the worst of times. I hug and kiss you in my spirit as I write these words.

We thank God that because we know more of the things to make me healthier, my health has improved since that stressful time.

You are the one who works behind the scenes. You love people through the times when life is dragging them kicking and screaming through the mud.

You were that shy woman at the church Bible study with so much pain etched on your face. But I also saw something else. In your eyes, I saw the longing to be loved. Now, look at you, girl! You’ve come so far towards becoming the woman God intended you to be. Fly high to the sky with Him.

Darling, I reflect upon a special day in our lives, We had a booking for a meal at a restaurant. There was a surprise I was to give you during our supper. I went through the pockets in my suit jacket and pants. I was in a panic when I couldn’t find it. I thought to myself, “Oh no, I’ve lost it!”

I asked you to go back to our apartment to get my backpack. I was praying it was in there. You were so annoyed with me. You couldn’t understand why I was fussing so much about my backpack. I had forgotten to take it to other places we went without being concerned about it. I would put things in it like snacks, a crossword puzzle book, and a book.

You huffed. You said grrr under your breath.

You later told me you took the elevator to our floor. When it opened the person staying with us said, “Here.” She gave you the backpack. She knew that special thing was in it. She said, “Tell Kevin what he’s looking for is in it.”

This made you angrier. You thought, “What’s the big deal? It’s a backpack. Kevin has taken it other places. He never puts anything in it he absolutely needs.”

You came back to the car with the backpack. You were angry with me for insisting on taking it with us. You handed it to me. You said with gruffness, “Here. The thing that’s so important to you is in the backpack. We’re going to be late!”

There was this icy silence all the way to the restaurant.

We arrived barely on time.

You were blown away when I got down on one knee and presented you with an engagement ring. You were speechless. (Karen is rarely at a loss for words) Your face glowed. Then, you said, “Oh my gosh! Yes. Yes, Kevin! I’ll marry you.”

Applause rang out through the entire restaurant.

A waitress came with a bottle of champagne. Smiling, she said, “This is from the manager.” There was applause again.

Karen, you lit up when we sang In the Garden at our wedding almost 15 years ago. The pastor who married us wasn’t sure how it would turn out when we asked if we could sing that song. When we started singing he relaxed and enjoyed it. He was taken aback that it didn’t bomb.

Would I take back any of what we’ve gone through? Perhaps, some of it. It’s our trials that have made our marriage stronger, and helped us grow. We have seen how God and the many who love us have been there for us.

Karen, thank you for helping me soar for our Lord.

I love you higher than 867.714141416 Seoraksans. (That’s a mountain in South Korea).

I leave you with this thought:

Telling people you love them is the best Christmas or any time present you can give them.

I’m a struggling sinner saved by grace trying to teach others about it.