Norman

November 10, 2017 by Dorothea Love (California)

 After my husband, Norman, and I were married, I moved to Los Angeles, his hometown. I fell in love with the sunshine, palm trees, and the beaches.
 

Each morning, Norman and I went to the beach. We spent countless hours walking along the shore, sharing our dreams and goals, laughing and praying. In essence, becoming one. We planned to travel to some of his favorite spots around the world. We talked about starting a family and how we could make a good life together. Norman made me feel safe, loved, cherished, and honored.

I believe those first months were God’s way of cementing our relationship and allowing us to build a solid foundation for our marriage; and, also as a time to develop a bond between us that would not break, even though it would be stretched and tested to the point of shattering. Without that uninterrupted time, I don’t believe our marriage would have survived all the trials we have faced. 

Six months into our marriage, chronic pain, and a devastating illness upended my world and plunged us into chaos. Then, there were surgeries, medicines, frantic emotions. A year later, I received another diagnosis that terrified me and caused me to have to seriously face my death for the first time  Norman held me while I cried at the doctor’s office. He didn’t try to find words to calm me down or cheer me up. He simply put his arms around me until I calmed down. Finally, he lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. “It’s going to be OK. You’re not in this by yourself, so don’t worry.”  To this day, he has never told me what went through his mind, or if he felt as devastated as I did.  He asked me to think about our past and remember what we’d been through. How God strengthened us to endure those other trials and tests. Surely, God would bring us through this.
 

I love the fact that Norman always chooses to believe God and speak words of life and faith to me. Sometimes during the challenging moments, I hold onto Norman’s faith because my faith is so weak. Through everything, my husband remains steadfast — a ROCK. His faith and trust in God never waver, and he always manages to demonstrate his love for me. Norman shows me what it looks like to trust God. Since we first got married, I have been amazed at his faith and simple trust. He possesses the child-like faith Jesus speaks of in the Bible (Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17). Although Norman is a man with many responsibilities – husband, father, brother, uncle, grandpa, friend, coworker, volunteer – there is one facet of his character that never fails to inspire me, and that is his identity as a child of God.
 
Every day, I thank God for my husband, Norman, whether our lives run smoothly or when there are bumps along the way. When I’m having a difficult day, I think about our marriage vows, especially the ones about sickness and health and better or worse. The “hard” days make me remember why I fell in love with him and to admire his ability to continuously help me on my journey of faith. A friendship that began thirty-three years ago is the reason we are still happily married today. Yes, our marriage is far from perfect, but it is a relationship we’ve committed to God, and by His grace, we will continue to thrive as a couple.
 
Thank You, Lord, for placing this awesome man of faith in my life!



Visit Dorothea's personal blog: dorothealove.wordpress.com


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