That Which Continues to be My Delight.

Last week I wrote about my grandmother who had recently passed away.

I told y'all about how she loved well.

And how she taught me to love others well. 

Now I want to talk to someone else who has taught me how to love well.

This example of love goes beyond "well."

This love is exceptional.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Gervice Thomas. 

More affectionately known as PaJoe. 

My grandfather. 

The husband of my late grandmother. 

Together they shared 58 years of marriage. 

Three children.

Nine grandchildren.

Two great-grandchildren.

A life full of adventure and surprise.

And more love than most people can even dream of. 

My grandfather was a military man. 

A pilot in the United States Air Force. 

And with that came uncertainty.

They never quite knew when they would have to leave.

How long they would get to stay.

Or where they would be going next. 

Uncle Sam brought, not entirely desired, spontaneity into their lives.

But no matter what the circumstance, 

no matter how much uncertainty,

insecurity,

fear,

or doubt,

one thing remained the same 

the quality of love they had for each other. 

I always knew my grandparents loved each other growing up, 

that was never something I questioned, 

or even really thought about. 

My grandfather is not one prone to emotions. 

He is rather stoic. 

Reserved.

But over the past few years I have had the pleasure of watching him slowly soften. 

It started when my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

And he's been slowly melting away ever since. 

I've had the honor of watching how a man is called to love his wife.

He was by her side until her dying breath,

and he couldn't have imagined being anywhere else. 

He may be stoic and reserved with everyone else, 

but with her it was different. 

She had won his heart long ago,

 and she was the only person who ever had.

Everyone who knows him, 

knows how much he loves her, 

because they could see it.

They could see his tenderness with her. 

They could see his devotion to her. 

They can see his heart belongs to her. 

I know what love from a husband looks like.

Because PaJoe has shown it to me. 

I pray that the Lord blesses me with a husband as loving and as wonderful as my grandfather. 

So gentlemen, if you need some tips on how to love your wife,

I know the perfect person to look to.