We were all single back in the day and like most people sometime in our mid to late twenties we got married.

In an earlier chapter I referenced the babysitting Co-Op.  There were probably 12 to 15 families that participated over time.  Jim and Jennifer were one of those couples.  They had one son who was about 4 years old at the time.

I had known Jim for maybe 5 or 6 years and he was an all around good guy.  He loved the Lord, worked hard, loved his wife well and was a good dad.

Life was just beginning for this young family when the news broke.  Jim was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

So one day I happened to be driving  through his neighborhood and Jim was working in the front yard.  To the best of my memory he was working on his mailbox.

I pulled over to greet Jim from the car and we struck up a conversation.

At some point in our conversation I asked Jim a simple question which was “Jim, we are now facing different realities.  God is teaching you different lessons  than I am learning at this point.  What would you say is something you are learning?”

Without hesitation Jim responded “Love your wife well!”.  

I drove home reflecting over what Jim said.  Not long after, maybe 3 or 4 months, Jim passed from this life to the next.

Most of the couples from the Co-Op attended his funeral.  Honestly I do not remember if it was at the funeral or in a one off conversation that I heard how Jim left this world.

He was lying on the floor in the bathroom fixing the sink for his wife.  His friend Matt was assisting.  At some point, Jennifer came to the bathroom door to check on the progress of the repair.  

Jim looked up at her and said  “I love you” and then appeared to look just past her as if he was seeing something  and simply said “Jesus”.  Almost as if in the same sentence and then he was gone.

Jim had given his last breath to love his bride well.  

May we all as men aspire to do the same.  I will be the first to admit loving well is hard work.  It is intentional and must be practiced every hour of every day.  We make mistakes along the way, apologize, seek forgiveness and try harder the next time.

On a side note, Max Lucado in his book Traveling Light says “there are many appointments in life…job interviews, doctors appointments, etc…the only one Jesus reserves for himself is when we as believers pass from this world to the next”.

I think Jesus was there for Jim’s appointed time.  To guide him home.  As Max says when our lower pastures are exhausted He guides us to the Upper Pastures.  He alone brings us home.

Jesus loving his bride well.