I did something that made me feel dumb today.
I was in Lincoln shopping and heard the most horrendous noise coming from my back tire. Our brakes had squeaked a few times earlier this week, but this was different. This sounded like my back left tire was trying to exorcise a demon. Even the woman at the Sonic drive through asked me if my van was ok as I sheepishly pulled up to pay for my meal.
Afraid to make the drive home, I frantically called my husband. “Babe. Something is wrong with the van. I mean, really wrong. I’m afraid my tire is going to fall off on the interstate. I hate to ask you this, but can you meet me in Lincoln and look at it?”
“Of course. Hang tight and I’ll be there in about 30 minutes.”
Eric got to the parking lot of the store and took the van for a drive. “It sounds like there is gravel or something in there,” he said with a puzzled look on his face.
*Really, Lauren? Did you really make your busy husband drive all this way because a few rocks were in your wheel?* Already, I felt so embarrassed.
He got the van hoisted up and took the tire off. He did some fanangling and out from the brake pads fell a tiny rock.
I picked it up in disbelief. “THIS?” I looked at him. “This was what was making that horrible noise? This is why I called and made you drive all the way here? Eric, I’m so sorry, I feel like such an idiot!”
“Babe, don’t worry about it. For all we knew, there was a bearing that was lose and that could have been so bad if you drove home on it. What matters is that now, it’s taken care of and you feel safe.”
You. Feel. Safe.
That husband of mine…. He could have made me feel so foolish for making him drive 30 minutes for a rock. He could have grumbled and complained that I took him away from what he was doing at home. He could have made fun of me and made me feel like an inconvenience to him.
But instead, he validated me and made me feel safe.
My husband is my protector and hero. He makes sure I’m taken care of and feel loved and heard. Even when it’s not the greatest timing or when he has to go out of his way to do so. But I think that one of the things that I’m most grateful for about this man of mine is that he longs to make me feel safe. He lets me know that it’s never too much to ask him to make me feel more comfortable about something. He always gives me more than permission to call him and ask when something is bugging me. Whether it’s about a rock in my brake pad or something my heart is struggling with.
I’m never an inconvenience to him. Rather he sees his role as my protector and safety ensurer as a gift that he gets to give me. Not because I’m helpless, but because he loves me that much. And I will always be thankful for the rocks in my brake pads that remind me of just how fortunate I am to have someone who loves me that much.
