Day 40 - She

Jenn is in bed sick with a sinus infection-ish, cold-ish kind of illness...one of those where her head hurts so badly that she tries to hover over the floor without putting a foot down. She has a box of Kleenex on the pillow, the phone tucked next to her and movies readily available to watch. After checking on her this morning, I left to the coffee shop where I sent out some resumes and worked on developing a talk I'm giving this weekend.

She called to check in on me and to ask how I'm doing. Very thoughtful, indeed. Then she said, "I don't want you to take offense at this but I hope you spend some time praying today." I understood what she was saying. Take a break. Take some time for myself. She is more aware than I of how little time I take for myself. It's one of the beautiful ways she compliments me.

This past weekend when I was in my funk, Jenn simply said, "I'd love to talk to you when you're ready." She's watched me crawl into my cave several times over the course of our marriage but it no longer worries her. I can tell. She knows it won't be long before I come out refreshed, resolved and ready to take things on. She didn't push anything. She just let me do what I do.

It is this knowing that continues to draw me to her. Jenn knows me, has seen my ugliest masks, has been with me in my greatest achievements, has consoled me in my failures and has sat with me in my losses. She loves me more than ever, or at least loves me deeply which is a kind of "more."

Today I am devoting myself to appreciating Jenn which is really not a challenge at all. The challenge is to learn to appreciate her with intention and tell her how much I appreciate her. She doesn't always know.

She'll know today...