FRIDAY REVIEW

St. Valentine of Hallmark

February 14, A.D. 2008

Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25).

Now I know that this is Friday and that Valentine’s Day was yesterday. I also know that St. Valentine is nowhere to be found in Lesser Feasts and Fasts and that Valentine’s Day, as we know it can be very far from authentic Christian love.

This Valentine’s Day I find myself especially appreciative of my Valentine, my dear wife Ginny. With God’s help, I’ve tried to love her as Christ loved the church, and God has blessed our marriage indeed.

One week ago today, Ginny had foot surgery. She’s been following the doctor’s orders: stay in bed or on the couch, keep the foot elevated, and don’t leave the house. I knew this was coming, but I really didn’t know how much my life would change until it did. For a week now I’ve been doing many – not all by a long shot -- of the things that Ginny used to do. She instructed me on the proper way of doing loads of laundry. I’ve walked our black Lab Stormy and our Golden Doodle Thomas by myself twice a day. I’ve brought simple breakfasts from the kitchen to the bedroom – wow – breakfast in bed. I’ve heated Campbell’s Chunky soup, micro waved Healthy Choice lunches and dinners, and ordered Domino’s Brooklyn-style pizza. And, I’ve kept the kitchen clean – sort of. I’ve driven Ginny to the podiatrist for check-ups with her seat back and foot propped up on the Jeep dashboard. She didn’t know she could do that.

I’ve had to juggle TLC, housework, and Gospel work. Ginny’s recovery is going well, and we’re both a little tired. I’ve had to adapt and, with God’s help, be willing to give up a bit of myself for her. I haven’t done it perfectly or entirely gracefully. I’ve realized anew how important it is not to take our loved ones for granted.

For us, this minor trial is only temporary, and God is blessing us by pouring out even more of His love as we go through this together. My heart goes out at this time even more than ever to those who are the primary caregivers for loved ones – be they spouses, special children, or aging parents -- in chronic conditions where sacrificial love is a daily way of life that can be sustained only by the God of all comfort, compassion, and courage.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire of pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Your brother in Jesus the Christ,

Jim McCaslin+