Happy Birthday

January 16 is one of my favorite days of the year.  On this day my wife was born.  Since Kimberly and I have known each other for 25+ years and have been married or engaged for the past 17 birthdays, I have many fond memories of this day.  Here are a few:

• Kimberly’s sweet 16 birthday party at Mazzio’s in Bartlesville.  I remember being there and giving her a “Bad English” cassette tape as a present.  Ah the 80’s.
• Senior Year of College I had my roommate help me make dinner for Kimberly.  After dinner I proposed and she accepted.  After trusting in Christ as Savior, this is still the best decision I’ve ever made.
• First Year of Marriage, I was in seminary.  I had struggled through the fall doing odd jobs (literally, the jobs were odd), but on January 16, I had my first day as a commercial window washer.  This job would help provide for us all spring.  I had to be at work at 5:30 AM and the temperature was 21 degrees.  I worked a 11 hour day and then “rushed” home through rush hour in time to take a quick shower and take Kimberly out to the Dallas Symphony with some free tickets I got through the seminary.  When I got home, I was depressed, late,  and tired, but I overheard Kimberly telling my sister on the phone that she had gotten a great job that day at University of Texas-Arlington . . . a job that God would use to provide for us the next five years.  I teared up on the couch so thankful for this provision, and for my wife.
• This Year – this is truly a happy birthday.  One year ago we were faced with all the uncertainty brought on by Kimberly’s impending kidney transplant.  Not knowing exactly what to expect, and  sitting in the shadow of your own mortality makes for an interesting year.  As we sat at Outback tonight at dinner, however, I was struck with just how thankful I am for my wife, and the fact that God has given us another year together.  Praise God for that gift!

Kimberly is my best friend.  She knows me better than anyone else, and loves me still.  It is a joy to see her encourage all around her to walk more closely with Christ and to see God use her in ministry to others.  Every person is important to Kimberly, just as they are important to God.  She is a wonderful mother and friend.  I could never do what I do without her support and encouragement.  If relationships could be monetized, I would forever be in her debt.

On this day, January 16, I just want to publicly thank God for Kimberly Atwater Robinson.  On the inside of our wedding ring is written Ephesians 3:14-21.  I am so thankful that God is continuing to do abundantly beyond all I could ask or think.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.