An Open Thank You Note

Dear God,

Wow.  Writing down my thanks is daunting now that I’ve sat down to do it.  There are so very many things to thank you for.  Deep things like breath, knowledge, and salvation to name a few.  And lighter things like coffee, sunsets, and laughter.  Now that I’ve started writing, I truly understand that hymn that says:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

I would definitely have to type forever to even attempt to adequately thank you.

However, this morning, the thing that is prompting my thanks is the gift you gave me in my husband.  Eighteen years ago, we were married in that little Episcopal chapel in Houston.  I still vividly remember looking to you through the trees of that lovely clear glass window and then looking to soft brown eyes of my handsome groom.  You were there.  You heard our vows and are giving us the strength to fulfill them as we lean on you day by day. 

Marriage is a gift in itself—an awe-inspiring picture of Your love for the church complete with the call for consistent self-sacrifice mingled with rich and unexplainable joy. 

Your choice to give me Bill Cutrer as my husband floors me to this day.  He is tall and handsome, hardworking and kind, strong and funny, thoughtful and driven, wise and generous, humble and successful and so many other things that make him sound too good to be true.  And yet, he is true.  He’s true to me and to his children, colleagues, and friends. 

Oh sure, he has his faults.  No one is perfect.  But, he is perfect for me.  You have used him in my life in so many ways and I am grateful.  Lord, I am truly thankful that I get to be married to this man. 

And now, even though this is a thank you note, I need to ask you for something.  Please continue to be present in our marriage as you sanctify us individually.  Forgive us when we wrong you and one another.  Your presence and your forgiveness is what we need, Father.  We belong to you and we desire that our marriage brings you glory. 

But, I truly do thank you for this sweet, wonderful man you brought into my life all those years ago.  He still makes me smile.  He still makes my heart beat fast.  He serves me in so many ways.  His heart is precious to you and to me Lord.  Thank you for this undeserved gift named Bill Cutrer.  I love him so.

Your grateful daughter,

Elisabeth