A Glorious Mystery, First Decade

Ever hear one of those stories about outrageously lucky, struck-upon fortune? You know, the guy who unwittingly purchases a Picasso for $5 at a garage sale, or who discovers a diamond necklace in the lining of a trench coat he picked up at the thrift shop?

I’m that guy.

Through no doing of my own, I stumbled upon the greatest prize 10 years ago today. An amazing woman, far better than I ever hoped for, let alone deserved, pledged before God to be my wife till death do us part. A decade later, I still marvel at my good fortune. Some people’s vocation is to live lives of great penance and hardship. Me: I get to spend my days and nights with the most delightful person I’ve ever met. Not fair, I know. All I can guess is that God gives us as much as we can handle — and He knew I wasn’t up to handling much.

So what has this got to do with running, you ask? Well, not much, except to say that my wife’s attitude toward my running is a good example of her overall approach to our marriage: one of tremendous graciousness and generosity.

She doesn’t complain that I disappear for hours every Sunday to take a long run. She lovingly gets me gel blasts and Gatorade when she’s out and about. She doesn’t blink at credit-card bills with hefty charges from sneaker stores and race fees. Indeed, she even kindly encourages these things, recognizing how good running has been for both my body and soul. And the other day, she surprised me with an early Christmas present — a pair of sweet running gloves — because it was dang cold and she didn’t want me to hit the road with socks over my hands.

But the running examples are truly just a microcosmic example of her overall way — always loving, always serving, always giving, whether it’s in the way she helps me with work, listens to me, or takes such wonderful care of our precious four little ones.

That said, it’s not all hugs and flowers. When I’m out of line, she sets me straight. With a smile and soft words, to be sure, but nonetheless, she won’t gloss over problems. She takes both our vocation and my salvation seriously. She’s committed to making a marriage that works, to raising a holy family, and to doing all she can to help me get into Heaven. (And I need all the help I can get.)

No doubt about it, I hit the vocational jackpot.

Thank you, Mary Kate, for 10 glorious years.

And thank you God, for Mary Kate!