A Knight in Shining Armor

For as long as can remember, my husband has wanted to go on medical missions trips. I always pointed out the danger, the unknown, the consequences for our family if things didn't go right.

I said no.

For years.

Then something happened. I'm not sure if I can explain it, but I'll try. (Wives out there, please read this not thinking of me and my husband, but of you and your husband.)

Men like adventure.

I know, I know... so do women. But for men, adventure is a really a big deal. They like fast cars (even if they drive the minivan). As kids, they dream of becoming firefighters rescuing the world, super-heroes, and Army guys (or Marines - that's for Curtis). They want to be knights in shining armor. They dream of slaying dragons, and stuff like that.

Dads like to wrestle with their kids, toss them up in the air, and knock over blocks. They make monster noises. They growl. They build tunnels with couch cushions.

Then comes wife. Calm, conservative, safe. And what happens? The chivalrous knight dutifully removes his armor and tucks it in the back of the closet. Every once in a while, he might take a peek at it, wistfully wishing he could wear it again. Sigh.

No dragons to slay. No world to save. Complacency sets in.

We wives wonder why. What happened to that fun, bright guy I married? Why doesn't he laugh anymore? Whatever happened to that twinkle in his eye?

Can you guess where I'm going? Yep. It's up to us!

It's up to us to listen to our husbands, not just their words, but their hearts. It's up to us to care more about their dreams than about our practical selves. It's up to us to honor them for who they are and not force them to be who we want them to be.

My husband leaves for Haiti in a couple days. He's excited to go. Not because it sounds fun, that's for sure. He's learned a lot about what to expect, and it won't be easy. Yet, his eyes twinkle. He plans. He prepares. He prays.

I am concerned. Haiti isn't particularly stable right now. He's about to see suffering that he can't really comprehend. I want him to keep him home, safe. But more than anything, I want him to live the life he is meant to live. Go slay the dragon, good knight.

Clip art courtesy of Melissa Snell, copyright © 1998-2009 Melissa Snell.