The day before Thanksgiving the love of my life will turn 75. That's quite a milestone, but in his mind, it's "just a number." After all, what 75-year-old man do you know who gets himself an 18-speed bike for his birthday and rides it 4 or 5 miles as often as possible? He's in excellent health and has the self-discipline to do whatever it takes to maintain it.
I met Steve when he was 22 and married him when he was 23, so I've had more than 50 years to observe him closer than anyone on earth. I can tell you with certainty that Steve Pearson is every bit the kind, honest, hard-working, godly man that you think he is. He's unwavering in his commitment to Jesus and the church, as well as to me and to our children and grandchildren. He's an early-to-bed, early-to-rise guy. Many mornings he has already prayed for ALL of us before I ever wake up.
Steve has his worldly passions, of course. Yardwork and anything having to do with Auburn are near the top of his list, but he also LOVES blackberry cobbler, Bob Gibson's pork sandwiches, and dark chocolate. All of that and yet he has perfect blood pressure, and the nurses are prone to write the word "excellent" on any lab results during his check-ups.
Steve takes meticulous care of our finances and knows where EVERY PENNY goes. I'm not kidding.
Steve loves a consistent routine. Imagine being married to a travel-writer wife under those circumstances. Bless him.
Steve needs very little in terms of material things, and his love language is definitely not GIFTS. He has shirts in his closet that go back decades and truly despises shopping for clothes. He's a simple man with a highly intelligent mind. His go-to birthday dessert request is always a low-sugar blackberry cobbler. Did you get that low-sugar part?
Steve could spend HOURS studying the Bible. His heart truly seeks after the Word of God. He always provides me and other Sunday School class members with fresh insights when he teaches. He goes to Barkley Bridge Elementary School every Tuesday morning as part of the First Priority ministry, seeking to instill a love for the Bible into the children who gather for the short group time there. Steve doesn't push me spiritually, he LEADS me, and there's a big difference.
He has tried to retire a couple of times but continues to be lured back to doctoring pets and interacting with their owners. That one day a week works well for him . . . for now.
Several weeks ago he mentioned that he longed to have a day with his three children -- something that has been extremely rare since they all married and had their own families. I conveyed that wish to each of them, and Laura, Matt, and Julie made it happen. He desired to bless and encourage them, and I believe he accomplished that desire. It was a wonderful day.
So on November 23rd, I will make a cobbler according to his wishes, and maybe I'll secretly try to replace a few of his ancient shirts. I will give thanks once again that God chose this amazing man to be my husband and realize how precious every day we have left together truly is.
Here are some verses that I know Steve lives by and I hope will encourage him and you today.
1 Corinthians 15:58 -- "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Micah 6:8 -- "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Proverbs 20:7 -- "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them."
Psalm 1:1-3 -- "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."
Comments