The ordinary man

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There are many things that I find endearing about my husband. His ready smile, his sensitive spirit, his love for family and others, and most importantly his relationship with God.

I've never seen a man, or in fact anyone who speaks about their own failures as openly as he does. At first, I was taken aback when I heard him talk about himself. I wondered if he had a poor self image. I wondered if he was unhappy with himself. I wondered if he was a lost, little boy.

I wouldn't ever dream of speaking badly about myself. I don't like it when others speak badly about me either. I hold my cards very close to my heart. I wouldn't take a single negative comment about myself, without first getting defensive. But, my husband marches to a different tune.

It took me quite a while, to realize that only someone whose identity and sense of worth is from God can be so secure in their own failures. Only someone who doesn't think highly of themselves can genuinely relate and see goodness in others. Only someone like that, wouldn't worry about how he is perceived. This wasn't a false sense of modesty or humility. It wasn't poor self image. To this date, it baffles me. The closer he is to God, the more his defenses are down. His face and countenance radiates with knowledge and God's grace.

It takes a real man to admit failures, and I'm married to one such remarkable person. An ordinary being who loves an extraordinary God.

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