rachel downing

My Hero

Yesterday marked six years being married to greatest guy on the planet.  Here are just a few of the reasons I continue to fall in love with him everyday.

1.  He is a great father.  Anyone who has spent any time with the 3 of us can identify in minutes who the preferred parent is. And you know what? I’m okay with that.  When study after study shows that the father/child relationship is incredibly crucial to a child’s development, I consider myself blessed to have such a hands-on husband, because I know that not everyone can say that.  That being said, he is also a consistent disciplinarian.  Probably more so than me.  In our house, what daddy says, goes.

2.  He’s easygoing. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a scheduler.  I plan things out and if things don’t go accordingly, it’s hard for me to adjust.  Isaac is great about planning things out, but doesn’t get bent out of shape if things need to be tweaked or changed.  He helps me deal with life’s unexpected events a little easier.

3.  He tells me everyday that I am beautiful… whether I want to hear it or not. He doesn’t give up on me, even when I reject his compliments.  And he always seems to know when I need to hear it the most.

4.  He’s a handyman.  Whether it’s putting in a ceiling fan or laying new flooring, he has done much of the work and updates to our house.  Even if he isn’t sure how to do something, he will do the research and figure out if he can get it done.

5.  He is supportive with my job.  I absolutely love what I do.  But since becoming a mother, I have been torn between those 2 roles in my life.  Isaac has been with me every step of the way to make decisions and supported me 100% when I decided to go back to work part-time.  It was a decision I could not have made, if I thought he wasn’t behind me all the way.

6. He’s a pastor! He has worked so hard to get to where he is.  There have been times when we have questioned God’s calling on our lives, but it has been so amazing to see God’s purpose fulfilled before our very eyes!  He is a great worship leader and is being stretched in several new and exciting ways.  He embraces those things and the chance to learn new things, which in my humble opinion, makes him a wonderful Pastor of Worship and Family Ministries.

7.  He takes the time to romance me.  Whether it is planning our date nights, or leaving little notes around the house for me to find while he is away on a trip, he always is looking for new ways to show me I am loved and the only woman in his life.

8.  He is intellectual.  He talks about how much I like to read, but I tend to read fluff.  His pleasure reading includes books by John Piper and Mark Driscoll and Erwin McManus. Not exactly light reading.  He enjoys staying up on the news and current trends and is constantly looking for ways to expand his knowledge.

9. He is a better counselor than me. I have a Master’s degree in Human Development Counseling and in my opinion, he can run circles around me in the counseling arena.  While I may have the knowledge base about counseling, he has the skills to reach people that just can’t be taught.  He knows how to listen and draw people out in a way that is just second nature to him.

10.  He is organized.  Almost to a fault! Everything has it’s place and he is very particular about the way things are put in order.  I enjoy being organized and it is so helpful having a husband who is the same!

11.  He has worked so hard to be the man he is today.  Anyone who has known Isaac since he was in high school can attest to his, um, colorful past. He became a Christian when he was 16 and had he not found Christ then, who knows where he would be today. He has never made excuses for his past but has used his experience to learn and grow into an amazing man of God.  Not to mention, his relationship with his parents, once hanging by a thread, is now stronger than ever.

12.  He is incredibly talented.  Whether it is music or painting or writing, anything he chooses to focus on turns out amazing.  He has composed songs, painted pictures, and written poems for me. And that’s just me! He uses all his talents well, whether it is leading worship at church or creating Christmas cards for someone.

13.  He likes to make me breakfast.  I am not much of a breakfast person, but honestly Isaac makes the best scrambled eggs.  Just the fact that he wants to do something like that for me, makes me feel so special.

14.  He takes care of me.  Since I work 60 miles from home, Isaac always makes sure my car is in good condition. Whether it’s checking on something if I’m nervous, or even going out at 6am to fill the car up with gas, my safety and comfort are his priority.  Even if something does go wrong, he makes sure to get it fixed right away.

15.  He’s not too proud to say he is sorry.  If he is in the wrong, he will admit it.  Even times when he is justified in his actions or attitudes.

16.  He works hard to control his temper.  This is not to say that he has an anger problem, quite the contrary.  I know there are times when he is frustrated with me and he always seems to get beyond that to discuss our disagreements to reach resolution.  I know many times it would have been easier to get mad and engage in a yelling match, but he works hard to help me open up when I have shut him out.

17.  He protects me.  Before we were even dating, we went to Cornerstone for the day (I guess we were “in like”).  During one of the concerts a mosh pit started up right next to us.  He very deliberately placed himself between me and the moshers, so I wouldn’t get hurt. Even now, some 12 odd years later, I still remember it clearly. I remember thinking, ‘this guy will do anything to make sure I am safe.’  And I still feel that protected.  Any situation that is remotely concerning, he is there.

18.  He appreciates cleanliness. Now I am by no means a very clean person, but I do my best to keep our house neat.  He takes note when I have worked hard to clean the house so I will know that he appreciates it.  The added bonus is that many times, he will do the cleaning when I am gone or busy because he knows how much I appreciate it.

19.  He likes my cooking! I really enjoy cooking, but have to admit my menu isn’t very exciting or varied.  Often times I feel bad that I am such a picky eater because he only gets to eat the things that I like!  I don’t think I have ever heard him complain about something I have made, and to hear him talk to other people, you’d think I was gourmet!

20.  He only has eyes for me.  In a society that embraces sensuality, I can appreciate (though I’ll never fully understand) how hard it is for a man, married or not, to maintain purity.  Isaac makes sure I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am the only one in his life.  He works to avoid precarious situations and is sure not to even put himself in a place where there could be a hint of temptation.  He talks to me about it and honors me in such a way that I never have to worry about his faithfulness to me.

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.  With a guy this amazing, how could I not marry him?  Even more wonderful is the fact that I love him even more today than I did yesterday.