Cherishing Your Marriage: Part 2

[Joshua Harris is the senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland and serves as a Council Member at CBMW.  This post from his blog was written independently of Mike Seaver's prior post, but beautifully demonstrates what "Cherishing Your Marriage" looks like in practice.  - David Kotter]

Honoring My Wife

by Joshua Harris

This post is an unabashed display of husbandly pride. Forgive me, but I want to honor my amazing wife. She spends herself managing our home and caring for and educating our three children. Like all mothers, she could be doing something else if she wanted to. In Shannon's case it's singing. She has an amazing voice.

Even though she has for the most part laid her singing career aside, God has graciously given her opportunities to contribute her talents to various projects. Most recently, it was on a worship CD inspired by the book The Valley of Vision.

If you're not familiar with the book, I highly recommend it. It's a book of Puritan prayers compiled by Arthur Bennett. A few years ago, Sovereign Grace produced an album of songs based on the prayers in the book. Shannon was able to sing three of the songs, including the title song, "Valley of Vision."

So, anyway, this Christmas Shannon was surprised to get a card from a lady in Wales named Elizabeth Clough. She is the daughter of Arthur Bennett. Here are the very kind words she wrote to Shannon:

Dear Shannon, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU for the beautiful way you sang "In the Valley." Bob [Kauflin] sent me a CD which is based on the Puritan Prayers. It was my father, Arthur Bennett who edited the book and wrote the prayer, "The Valley of Vision." He would have loved your voice and the meaningful way you sang the prayer. So on behalf of the large Bennett clan, thank you in Jesus' name.

Mrs. Clough, your letter meant the world to my wife. Sometimes she forgets just what a gift her voice is to all who hear it. Thanks for reminding her. And thanks for giving me this excuse to honor her.

Shannon, you have a beautiful voice. But you also have a beautiful life because of the way you have surrendered it so joyfully to the purpose and priorities of the Savior. Your godliness and passionate pursuit of the Lord is the reason I love and respect you so much.

To everyone else, thanks for putting up with this "mush-fest" of a post. I hope it inspires you to check out The Valley of Vision in book form and CD. You can purchase the book here or the CD here.