In Action and in Truth

Today was a big day for me. I had an important presentation in midtown. I prepared intellectually, spiritually, and physically. I was ready. Before leaving the house my husband and I prayed about my presentation. He encouraged me and I left the house with a boost of confidence that comes from both Christ and my husband having my back. Well, the presentation was wonderful. Fantastic. As soon as it was over, I pulled out my BlackBerry to tell my husband and my circle of close friends the great news via a triumphant e-mail. Guess who was the first person to write back congratulating me? You guessed it. Rueben knows exactly how to love deeply from the heart. There is a scripture in the bible that commands us to not love in word and tongue, but with actions and in truth. That is the way he loves me and that is the way I love him back. I told him how much it means to me that he is cheering for me and wanting me to do not just well, but phenomenal. And it did not just stop with e-mails on our BlackBerries. We spoke about it too. He was brimming with happiness for me and I was so appreciative of his support. He made a big day for me into a great day for US. My triumphs are his triumphs. And his victories are my victories. We are one.

Bind each other's wounds

My husband Rueben and I both had a busy, stressful week, trying to get everything done on our respective itineraries. Each did not want to worry the other, so we minimized the seriousness of our state of mind. But this evening over the roast turkey, brown rice, and hearty salad, that I made with love, we confided in each other the extent of our disquietedness. Then we physically and psychologically embraced again and again. The warmth of our embrace healed our wounds. Then we were better able after dinner to take a brief break from the many things we still had to do. We took a moment to sit in the love seat in our living room and listen to the first two movements of Wolgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem Mass. I sang the soprano part. It was a healing and powerful few minutes. Never underestimate the power of a warm, reassuring embrace, a few considerate words, a sacred song, or a neck massage (gave him a neck message while he washed the dinner dishes). When God created Eve, He introduced her as "a suitable helper" for Adam. It is also written that we are to sharpen each other "as iron sharpens iron." We still have many things to take care of and got right back to work after a brief intimate interlude after dinner. But now the things to be done have been put into perspective, because we have bound each other's wounds.