Thank You for Not Listening

Yes, I did say this to my husband the other day. “Thank you for not listening to me.”

And he said the same thing back to me.

First, his story:

The last two jobs he’s had are because I sent in his resume when he told me not to. He’s forgiven me for the first instance, and thankfully he didn’t get any permanent scars. He did get a broken bone, a severe rug burn and a black widow bite, but he’s forgiven me for getting that job for him. Some forever-friendships came from that job.

The second time I sent off his resume when he said not to, it was for his current job. Have you ever seen someone doing what God designed them to do? Doesn’t it make your heart warm all the way down to your toes? I feel that every time my husband comes home from work. He was made for this job.

No, I’m not usually such a non-submissive wife. My husband makes the Ephesians 5:22 principle quite easy, since he tries his best to love me as Christ loves the Church.

But sometimes he doesn’t listen to me. And sometimes I’m thankful for that.

A year ago I was feverish and achy, sicker than I’d been in years and unable to do much more than lie on the bed and moan.

“I’m going to get a dog,” my husband declared. “It’s a two hour drive, and I’ll bring Kenzie with me so you can rest.”

“Please,” I croaked through a dry throat, “please don’t get a dog right now. Please. I beg you. Please.”

He didn’t listen to me.

He knows me well enough. Before an animal arrives I fight tooth, claw and nail against it. When the animal shows up, well, a different story unfolds.

“We have a dog named Faith,” my husband said. “Shall we name this next one Peace?”

“No.” I had said please so many times I couldn’t form the word any more, and Peace was too close. “Name her Hope.” I fell back into a feverish sleep, not even able to worry that they were heading out on a Friday evening through the worst possible traffic area in middle America.

Six hours later they returned.

With Hope.

And I instantly fell in love.

“Thank you,” I said to my husband. “Thank you for not listening to me.”

This dog has been a huge blessing in our life, and a huge promise from the Lord for the future:

Hope.

Me, feverish, adoring my new dog.

After one of her many baths. I bathed her twice a week when she was young, since mud tended to cling to her beautiful white coat.

Hope’s favorite place to sleep for her first month here.

She’s twice this size now, but so gentle and patient.

Sometimes we desire things that we fight against. Have you ever done that?