Love, Honor and Trust

Years ago when I was at Moody Bible Institute, I had a young pastoral student say that all men, including strong Christians, fantasized about other women. That's just the way men are. They can't help it.

"You don't know my father," I told him. "My dad fantasizes only about my mother."

The young man smiled smugly. "That's what he says. But he's just like any other man."

"Like I said, you don't know my father," I insisted as I walked away, letting him continue to justify his own thoughts by thinking all men shared his problem.

Since then, I've heard that lame argument a lot -- in conversations, magazines, politics, even from the pulpit. It is an argument that makes man no better than an animal. It provides an excuse for men to cheat, mentally or physically. It is an argument that degrades men when they live down to it.

Each time I've heard a married man reminisce about his conquests, seen him oggle a pretty woman or watched him flirt, I've thanked God that I have been blessed with a father who truly knows how to love and honor his wife. As a young woman, I hoped and prayed that some day I would have a husband who would love me the same way, a husband I could trust -- with my life and my love. God answered that prayer.

Happy anniversary, Job. And, Dad, happy birthday. I love you both.