Roman Numerals to Twenty-Five on Why I love My Wife

The first one is the most difficult because we all expect it to be the most important. In this case, I ask you abandon all expectations for this post. Lose them. This is in no specific order of what i love most from first to last...its just a list. Enjoy!

I. Empathy. I have not met anyone who displays this quality more than my wife. No matter who it is or whether or not she's been through a similar thing, she can get beside that person and share their grief, joy, worry, pain or bliss. 

II. The last leads into this one, perhaps. Imagination. She might think in bullet points most the time, but she has an incredible ability to create out of nothing something wild and new. 

III. Accepting. From marrying a man like me to loving all nations and people, she demonstrates a desire to know souls not pretense. 

IV. She's power-drives through the grocery store like a Steelers linebacker. 

V. She'll sit and watch her father-in-law, husband and his best friend drink too much and get emotional over the ONE football game they watch all year...and get emotional, too, when their team loses. 

VI. Her love of change yet devotion to people and principles.

VII. She's devoted to Christ in a way that I know will never move. 

VIII. She's bad at math like me. Even though she was the poster child for nerdom in her scholastic years. 

IX. She's willing to challenge the norm when pushed. 

X. Adventurous and a moderate risk-taker. 

XI. Wants to see me grow as a person and willing to make sacrifices to see me develop. 

XII. Watches The Office, I think, because i laugh to the point of tears every time and that in turn makes her laugh. 

XIII. Her laugh! Snorts and gurgles like she's having a seizure of some kind. I tickle her just to see her stiffen up like a board and spew mucous from her mouth and nose.

XVI. Unwilling to think bad thoughts about anyone, no matter how hard i try to convince her that McCain was really one of the flying monkeys from Wizard of Oz and that he was going to remove his jointless arms and reveal his wings as soon as he was elected. 

XV. Pure in thought and action; she has a fear like we all need of what is not pure.

 

XVII. Voted how her conscious moved her not how her peers expected...not even I could persuade her one way or the other.

XVIII. She's the right kind of feminist and the right kind of traditional; actually, she just loves the Lord and understands His will is that she become fully alive by seeking Him- He never stifles the personality or desires he gives to anyone. 

XIX. She loves to read. 

XX. She's is such a good writer and demonstrates her thoughts in clear words and phrases. 

XXI. She'll tell me no and stick to it. 

XXII. The way she has loved me, unabashed and forgiving, ardently and reasonably; she is a living example of a love I had only read about and pretend to know: Christ.

XXIII. She loves to mingle with people and give them what they need. She's far more chivalrous than me. Like last night, a lady we'd just met, after the meeting she insisted we walk her to her car. The lady was so blessed that we would go out of our way fro a stranger...I learn how to treat people better from Naomi.

XXIV. Weather can and never will phase Naomi

XXV. Despite being a Zimmerman, she's not perfect and has some serious issues to get over. This may sound like an insult...but for the longest time, until we had time together, it was difficult believe she had any issues at all. Her humility in recognizing them not only to me but to others, has helped me come to grip with myself as well. 

I love my wife for so ma y more reasons, and these reasons are such a poor reflection of what i am honored to be with every day. Her imprint on my life is so profound already after just a year and some months that I will never be the same. Lord willing he allows her to continue in my life as a constant reminder of His grace, unconditional love, justice, joy, humor and freedom. 

I love you Naomi!