A faithful man, who can find?

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,

but a faithful man who can find?

Prov. 20:6

Right now, as I type these words, I sit, blissfully alone in my quiet bedroom, tucked under a light quilt, the evening still bright outside. My husband is sitting in the yard, both kids piled on this lap, reading bedtime stories in the fresh summer air.

~

Early this morning my phone rang. The screen read, “Parents,” so I knew something was up. My dad doesn’t dial me early in the morning just to say hello.

“Hey baby. Mom fell and thinks she might have broken some ribs. We’re headed to the ER.”

I sigh. Not again.

Falls and spills and surgeries are the norm these days. And this man cooks and cleans and drives and shops and makes her laugh and pushes her to walk just one more lap.

The folks at the hospital, they don’t know what to make of a love like that, it’s so rare.

I arrived at the hospital shortly thereafter. We got a good laugh when the nurse had to ask her, “Ma’am, are you safe at home?”  We agreed she isn’t safe at home but it certainly isn’t Dad’s fault! When the x-ray was clean we teased her mercilessly about faking falls just so she could come to the hospital, which is right by our house, to see the grandkids. I left them smiling, Dad steering her wheelchair. Dad, always at the helm. Always driving her, protecting her, serving her.

~

Thursday night I dragged myself in the back door at 10:30pm, exhausted. We’d had evening plans 7 out of the past 8 nights. I. Was. Wiped.  I knew the day ahead was busy, my eyes burned with want of sleep, and for several days the overwhelmed feeling kept mounting. I knew the next night meant hosting another thing at our home.

Jeff met me at the door, took my jacket and purse.

“Guess what tomorrow night is?”

I sighed. Did he have to remind me? “I know, I know, we have that dinner thing at our house.”

He smiled. “I cancelled it. We have a night at home, just us. And Ben & Misty brought us pizza, so dinner’s covered.”

Relief washed over me. Such a small thing, but this girl was worn thin and this one small thing made all the difference.

The next morning he brought me coffee in bed and made the kids breakfast himself.

~

When 1,000 women ages 21-54 were interviewed and asked what the top desirable traits were that women want in a man, I was surprised to see the #1 answer. Above wealth, above looks, above sense of humor, the top quality was:

Faithfulness.

A faithful man, who can find?

Apparently that really is what we’re all looking for.

But sadly, it’s also the thing I most often overlook.

See, criticism comes easy for me. Too often I am fixated on what needs fixed. What he’s not. What I want. I remember in high school doing the same thing to my dad. I wanted my dad to be more “spiritual” (whatever that means), started getting all bent out of shape because he didn’t do Bible studies and what not. When the truth was I had the most faithful man I’d ever met staring me straight in the face and I was  so distracted by religious fireworks I didn’t recognize it.

The truth is, I was spend so much time looking for something I don’t realize I already have it.

The truth is, some of our men are rough around the edges. Maybe they leave dirty clothes on the floor. Maybe they drink beer or  (gasp!) smoke cigarettes. Maybe they cuss every once in awhile. Maybe they draft up batting line-ups during church (Yes, Dad I saw you do that when I was little. You’re totally busted). Maybe they’re messy or they don’t like to pray out loud.

But I know two faithful men when I see them, and I know we all have a choice:

Choose to look for and praise every glimpse of faithfulness we see in our men.

Whatever man God has put in your life–a husband, father, brother, son– choose to praise his faithfulness today.  The gift of praise is better than any power tool, tie, grill, or 6-pack. Be generous and be specific. Make a list!

Who can find a faithful man? You can!

Find a faithful man, and thank him today. 

{Thanks for reading.}