Tuesday, February 14, 2012

My Thatch Roof


As I got out of the car to go into Blockbuster for our first weekly Saturday movie, wine and chocolate night, I was slapped in the face by an icy gust of wind (at least for South Carolinian standards). I sank deeper into my fleece and walked quickly over to the building. When I was sheltered by its walls, the cold was no longer as terrible, and the wind was just a breeze.
I realized that this is what Joey is to me. A place to hide; a place to warm up; a place that makes situations seem not as bad; a place where I don’t have to hide in my fleece. Blockbuster was not my first stop. I was actually on my way to the store to pick up the wine and a few other things when I eagerly took a detour to Starbucks. I had left Joey at home with dinner to be made, a sick four- year- old and a toddler refusing to poop, even though, according to him, his belly “tickled.”
I was in a daze, tired from weeks of colds, pink eye, stomach problems, and starting a new job. As I sat in quiet and sipped my tea, the warmth started flooding my body, and it started to thaw my heart. The tea cup with a heart on it in honor of Valentines Day was Joey’s heart; a part of him. I have seen the effects of his work. Any excess of his body has disappeared, and now he is all muscle. He works so hard that he is in a way actually trading part of his body to take care of his family. Day after day he trades the seconds of his life to make mine better, and gives me the luxury of sipping a foamy Chai. It had only been the other day (here) that I had seen building imagery used to describe love. In 1 Corinthians 13 when Paul says that love bears all things, the Greek word being used can actually mean a “thatch roof.” A roof keeps that icy wind of life out. Real love places itself intentionally between the storm and the loved one.
I was gone for a little over two hours. I called home, and sheepishly apologized that I had been MIA for so long. His response was, “Stay away as long as you need to.” He was intentionally and joyfully bearing my load and sheltering me from it. Tears came to my eyes as I eagerly drove home.

Joey, thank you for being a thatch roof for me.

I love you.



5 comments:

SeventhYearSecondYear said...

mmm, good stuff my friend! love you guys!!

spicher said...

You must have been pretty desperate to warm up, if you stooped low enough to drink Starbucks.

Ketcherside Family said...

what can i say, i haven't found a chai in town that i like nearly as much. if you know of a better one, buy one for me.

barbvance said...

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK(HEAD)

OMI said...

Beautiful! And I love the new tradition. Very thankful for the way that your love, respect and thankfulness for each other continue to grow. What a great gift!