The Woman God Gave Me

I’m sitting in a hotel room, halfway around the world from home, with Nancy grabbing a little extra sleep before our day officially begins. The beautiful and brutal part of our job is we get to travel. It’s beautiful because we’re able to see and touch the people God is using around the world.

Regular people whose eyes light up as they speak of ministry and tear up as the share the price they've paid. The opportunity to share in the joy and their sorrow is humbling.

The brutal part is the toll it takes on my wife. In 2007 Nancy was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

She had just finished great year of ministry in Singapore, involved at the HCJB Global office, an English teaching Bible study for ladies and helping at Marcus’ school. Having struggled with some health issues, she was feeling better than she ever had.

But in July, she came down with a cold and never recovered. For the several months she spent her time in bed or on the couch too exhausted to go out. As we learned about the disease, we tried to do the things we needed to for her to get better.

Eat right, try to exercise and sleep when your body tells you to. Now she has a “new normal;” lots of sleep at night and a nap during the day.

Trips like this one don’t allow for that. She doesn't sleep well on planes, too many time zones, long days with people we care about. It all adds up.

I marvel at the woman God has given me. She’s beautiful, fun, quick witted and bright. She works hard, solves problems well and has a tenacious servant’s heart.  

She is a gift to me.

A friend said, “The great thing about Nancy is she understands what it means to be a partner in ministry.” It’s true. And I marvel at the price she’s willing to pay for the partnership.