My husband is a man among men. In this blog space, I named him ‘Mr. Barnabas’ for reasons quite obvious to me, but allow me to further explain.
In the Christian Holy Scriptures, Barnabas was a follower of Christ described as “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” More, his name means ‘son of consolation’ or ‘son of encouragement’ and if that doesn’t describe my husband, I really don’t know what does.
con·so·la·tion /ˌkänsəˈlāSH(ə)n/
noun
the comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment
en·cour·age·ment /inˈkərijmənt,enˈkərijmənt/
noun
the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
Very soon, I will have been married to this man, marked with an eternal optimism and enthusiasm, for thirty one years. By now, we know our differences and share varying degrees of sameness. We have weathered deep waters and rough undercurrents. We have discovered a uniqueness in each of our particular ways that seems opposite, but in the end - ever dependent on the life-saving and life-giving skills of the other.
Plainly, we are far from the shallow now.
At our wedding, we had these verses read,
Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers flood over it; Song of Solomon 8:7
And so this poem was born over many years of threatening waters. It is common for one to feel as though they are ‘drowning’ when overwhelmed by emotion, hardships; life. This poem is for us, wife to husband--but I hope it encourages your marriage. I hope you love again in a way that saves the other. I hope you love.
Mr. Barnabas has spoken into my story of healing from abuse since the onset of our relationship. Honestly, I would have drowned without him. I’m more in love with him than I’ve ever been. But even encouragers need encouragement and those given to consoling others need consoled, too. We are in this together and I am privileged to know him, to see him and to help him tread water the rare times he struggles to stay afloat.
We are on the journey of faith together. We are on the journey of life together. We are on the journey of love together. Each holding the other up. Because, many waters cannot quench love. Lifeguards are we.
I love you, Mr. Barnabas. - Sadie 🌺
Happy Anniversary, over and over and over again.
Lifeguards are We
I am deep waters
You,
A swimmer, good
Wading through shallow tide
Diving headlong into violent waves
Standing knee-deep when the waters still
Bathing in the sea
And when the deep waters
Threaten to drown me,
You are lifeguard
Buoyant
Swimming out to meet me
Stroke after stroke
Bringing tugboat, rowboat, skiff
Every vessel of rescue—
To me,
deep waters--
Teeming to bring me to shore.
And I will swim strong one day
I will walk on water
Your faith will carry me.
You are a glassy sea
Me,
A skater, good
Gliding over troubled places
Twirling joy around all your fears
Above the surface, icy calm
Below, raging passion
But I know the man beneath the smooth sailing
The man with fears,
That threaten the sea’s quiet ways
Who trips over ice berg’s tip
And I will be lifeguard
When the ice crumbles
And I will bring warmth
When the water runs too cold
And I will bring ocean liner, speed boat, raft or ship
To save you from soul’s dangers
I will plunge with yellow submarine to find you,
If I must.
But you will walk on water some day.
My faith will carry you across.
You and me,
Different
Like deep waters and glassy sea
We will survive the tide--
Lifeguards are we.
Saved by the other,
Eternally.
9 July 2016
CJZ:ss
As a gift for our 26th wedding anniversary.
❤️