I was fed up! As we sat before the counselor, I poured out what I had stored up, “Surely I’m not responsible for him. I do not have to be his helper, right? He needs to put out the effort, doesn’t he?!” And as the counselor reaffirmed my line of reasoning, I knew in my heart that we were sitting before the wrong counselor.

I knew my frustration was more with myself than anything. I knew I was not putting out the effort needed nor was I obeying the commands of Scripture which spelled out my responsibility: “The role of The Helper.” Yes, he still had responsibilities to fulfill. My help did not negate that in any way, but I knew; I knew I was wrong!

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:18 & 22, NASB

It is not easy being married to a great guy especially hearing it on a regular basis by those who admired him. It was not easy hearing how lucky I was to have one of his ribs nor how I should be treating him. I just wanted to escape it all!

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Colossians 1:28 & 29

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

My agitated, sinful heart was rebelling against God and His Word. And that cunning enemy, the devil, was having a free-for-all tossing me back and forth like the waves of the sea. I thought I would surely drown but God had other plans. His anchor sustained me. It literally rescued me. I will never forget the day. He supported me through crashing waves keeping my head above the water until I had developed the spiritual muscles needed to bring about wisdom and knowledge that grew me up. And I began shouldering the role of a helper in my marriage.

Now I find it a great honor to labor in serving the Lord by striving to be “the Helper” to my husband of 40 years (June 26, 2021)! Forty years! I keep saying that number and think of old people being married that long. Still, my amazement is even greater to look at us and know the work that God accomplished through 2 unwilling, stubborn, and sinful individuals like us. And He is in no way finished; What a joy it is to watch God work!

Happy Anniversary, Rodney Alan! I love our masterpiece!

Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

Psalm 54:4

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124:8

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:7, ESV

Thanks to our oldest grandson (5 years old) for his photography skills!