Home Improvement

I married a real “fixer-upper”.
No, not a man who needs fixing-up, but one who does the fixing-up.
Here he is putting in a new front door:

What was wrong with the old one?
Nothing, if you like pirates. I mean really like pirates.


And doors that stick and refuse to open.

Doors that refuse to open so you (I) have to open the window and holler at visitors that you’ll (I’ll) meet them out by the garage.

If you like those things then the old door is definitely the door for you. Come on over and pick it up.

But my man’s fixing skills are not limited to basic carpentry.
Oh no, he’s far beyond that.
He can rewire circuits, move plumbing lines, install a new dishwasher or garbage disposal, and even move walls.
But he’s not the only one. I do my share of fixing too. I am pretty handy at painting, spackling, and caulking. I can put in new bathroom hardware and even replace light fixtures.
Sometimes the things that need repair are not as noticeable.
Like last night, we were on a date and bumped into a business acquaintance of Mr. Frantic’s. The man was having dinner with his wife. We stopped to say hello.
It went down like this.
Business Acquaintance: Good to see you again, Mr. Frantic. This is my wife, Mrs. Acquaintance.
Mr. Frantic: Nice to meet you. How is business?
Me: I’m Heidi, Mr. Frantic’s wife.
Mr. Frantic: Oops…
I was a little bit huffy on the way to the car, saying things like “You always do that. Is it so hard to introduce me?” But he knew what to do.
He smiled sweetly and said, “You’re right, I’m sorry. But aren’t you glad that’s my only fault?”
I laughed so hard… (Maybe a little too hard. Sorry Sweetie.)
And the laughter rose up and carried away my irritation. I could have held it tight and nursed it into something larger, but instead I let it go.
The truth is, Mr. Frantic does have other faults, but just between us…
So do I.
And he loves me anyway, just as I love him.
Our marriage in not perfect. We are not perfect.
But when things start sticking, getting ugly, or just plain quit working we fix it.
Like any home repair, sometimes the work is quick and easy. Other times the labor is intense. We struggle with it, exhausting ourselves with the effort. Often, we need to consult the Expert in prayer and by studying His manual.
But in the end, if we do it right, what was once ugly and dark becomes something beautiful and full of light.

And now I have a message just for my husband:
Sweetie, thank you for all that you do for our family. You work so hard to provide for us, and to give us what we need, often sacrificing your own desires on the altar of “what’s best for our family”. Your service to God and perseverance in the face of difficulty is a great example to me and our girl. You are a great husband and father, and we probably don’t tell you enough. So again, thank you.
Happy Father’s Day! We love you!
Love Your Girls