Forty-two years ago at 6:00 pm tonight, Kathy and I were married. For Kathy, it was her first step into a marriage. For me, it was my attempt to do it right this second time. Little did I know what a gift God was giving me in Kathy. She is the person I could trust with what I thought was the most horrible things, and yet she never left. She saw through all of it and gave me grace just as Christ was trying to do, but I needed to see it in Kathy before I could ever see grace from Jesus. I needed help and she was the one who saw the need and encouraged me until I sought it. Not once has she ever condemned me as I had done to myself for most of my life. Just as honorable as her love and grace, is her mothering. My older two daughters have always said that Kathy is the one who taught them what a mother is suppose to be like. This is a huge compliment for all three of our daughters are great moms today due to Kathy’s modeling.

Of all the gifts I’ve received in life, Kathy tops the list. In the midst of a very troubled man’s younger years, God gave me Kathy so I could begin to know who God truly is (as modeled by Kathy) and what His characteristics are. I will forever thank God for His Gifts to me: Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit, and then Kathy!

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