I am married to a real man. The John Wayne-big truck drivin’-comfortable in the back forty-mess with my family I mess with you-kind. He is my man…and I love him.
Sometimes, though, this real man of mine steps into places I would not go. For instance, we were coming back from a camping trip once and came upon a car accident. Emergency vehicles were present and they were slowly diverting traffic around. As we passed the police officer, he informed us that another accident had happened up ahead – stay in the right lane and go slow. Roger. We got it.
As we drove on, most of the people complied with the officer’s request, but there are always those few. Sure enough, an ambulance had to come through and those few people who were in the left lane let the ambulance by and then tried to follow him. Well, we were driving that big truck – with a big travel trailer on the back. My sweet husband started straddling lanes so those people could not get through.
They were a little upset and tried to scoot by him anyway. It is about here that I would have been mad but let it go. Not my sweet husband.
He proceeded to put the truck in park, get out of the vehicle, and set those people straight. And so he did – and lived, mind you, which I wondered about because there are some crazy people in this world.
This is my sweet husband. I love him.
Moments like this make me think of two apostles of Jesus. You know them – James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus had a different name for them, though – Sons of Thunder.
“”These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),”” (Mark 3:16-17)
Many have debated why Jesus called them such, some saying they were angry or just loud. I would disagree. I believe when He gave them the name they still had to grow into it, much like Peter. They made mistakes, like going along with their mother and asking to sit next to Jesus (Matthew 20:20-22). But at other times, their request was made in righteous anger. Do you remember when they asked to rain down fire on the Samaritans because they would not provide a place for Jesus to stay? (Luke 9:51-56) They were still growing in their spiritual maturity, but they were beginning to understand who Jesus was and the power He had.
These two men, along with Peter, became the inner circle of Jesus – his trusted friends. They remained true to Him. These two men, living their lives in full, fervent devotion to their Savior. James became the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred for his faith. John, after suffering much including exile on the Isle of Patmos, died at a very old age having served Christ with dedication and courage for a lifetime.
These two men were Sons of Thunder. They were not angry or obnoxious. They were fervent followers – outspoken men who did what they believed was right even when it was difficult, while continuing to grow.
Now, back to my sweet husband.
When we first got married, I did not completely understand this part of my husband. I used this attribute when we had a difficult time with utility companies or something of the like, but mainly because I did not want to deal with it.
Over the years, though, I have come to understand and love this character trait in my husband. He would run into a brick wall over and over and over again if he believed it was the right thing to do. He is strong and courageous and determined, a fervent follower of His Savior. Doing what he believes is right regardless of consequences.
I admire this attribute in him, and have actually prayed for this same trait to arise in me. The vocal, determined stand, doing what is right regardless of circumstances; hanging with Jesus no matter what comes. That is my desire.
I did marry a son of thunder, but I would not have it any other way – even if we literally step out of the truck to stop traffic. I am in, heart and soul, for all of life – with him and with Jesus. The three of us together.
How about you? Are you a son of thunder?
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