I was driving around the northwest suburbs the other day with my preceptor with my new home care nursing job and I saw this man driving a big black truck. It was sparkling new and on the back window he chose to put this quite large bumper sticker that said in big,bold, and brazen letters, “I LOVE MY WIFE!” I loved it and found myself smiling with an endearing and affectionate little feeling in my heart. And I all of a sudden knew why…his public display of affection and tenderness for his wife spoke a very similar language of my very own husband.
I was reminded of a story many years ago. I was newly married and living in our first apartment in Skokie. I would drive to Highland Park every day (and for those of you not familiar with the north shore of Chicago, it is about a 30-40 minute drive in traffic) to work. One morning I walked out to my little VW Jetta named Jubilee and discovered that my husband had securely plastered a very large hot pink sign to the rear of the car, declaring a very simple statement. “My husband loves me,” in big, bold and brazen letters.
I sure did drive to work for a few days with that hot pink sign on the back of my car–just letting it sink in.
Well, recently I was doing a simple reflection in preparation for a little mini college reunion I am having this weekend with some college girlfriends. I was reflecting on all the the things I feel thankful for in the last year since I saw my friends, from the little things like, my lovely glass bird votives in my kitchen that make me feel happy to really deep and profound things like, the bountiful network of friends who have loved and supported me and Ivan through this hard year of yet more grieving. One of the items on my thanksgiving list was that I felt surprisingly grateful that the recognition I had of Ivan in that simple yet powerful bumper sticker was proof that his love for me had sunk in. His love and affection for me had really sunk in so deep that I have become to know it to be true without any questioning or doubt. That feels good and so much a God-thing.
He loves me, this I know. He loves me big, bold and brazen.