One of my inspirations for starting A Good Husband was the verse from the Book of Mormon that Nephi, a prophet who lived around 600 BC, wrote about why he wrote down the scriptures that he wrote.
15 And upon athese I bwrite the things of my soul…16 Behold, my asoul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my bheart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. 17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great agoodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O bwretched man that I am! Yea, my heart csorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
(2 Nep 4:15-17)
Since starting this blog, I’ve had several reader comments to the effect that these women wished their husbands were more like me. I really wish women wouldn’t leave these comments. While I appreciate positive feedback, I can’t help but think, “Hey, you married him. You better accept him for who he is.” While I encourage all men to become better husbands, I know that comparisons ultimately do no good.
Eventually, there came a time in my marriage when things had to change. We were both extremely unhappy, stressed out, and ready to call it quits. We were quite literally on the edge of filing for divorce. A combination of things changed our minds. Perhaps I’ll write about that experience at another time, but right now I wish to share with you all the song that helped save our marriage.
It’s titled “I’d Give It All For You,” by Jason Robert Brown.
I had a house while you were gone
The week after you left me
I found a couple acres
Near Sarilla Park
I had a house while you were gone
A house with silver shutters
And a driveway laid in marble
And thousands of rooms to fill
And miles of space to fly
And I tried to believe it,
It was better without you
I was safer alone
No, I’d give it all for you
I’d give it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I’d give it all for you
I’d give it all to hold you again
To feel I’m completed
To know there and then
That all that I needed
Was you to fight the fear
And now you’re here
I took a trip while I was gone
I cashed in all my savings
And bought an Eldorado
Drove to Tennessee
I took a trip while I was gone
I drove across the country
And I stopped at lots of diners
And stared at a million stars
And thought I could touch the sky
And I tried to believe it,
It was better without you
I was finally free
No, I’d give it all for you
I’d give it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I’d give it all for you
I’d give it ‘cause the mountains I climb
Get higher and higher
I’m running from time
And walking through fire
And dreams just don’t come true
But now there’s you
God knows it’s easy to hide,
Easy to hide from the things that you feel
And harder to blindly trust
What you can’t understand
God knows it’s easy to run,
Easy to run from the people you love
And harder to stand and fight
For the things you believe
Nothing about us was perfect or clear
But when paradise calls me
I’d rather be here
There’s something between us
That nobody else needs to see
There were oceans to cross
There were mountains to conquer
And I stood on the shore
And I stood on the cliff
And the second before I jumped
I knew where I needed to be
Oh, I gave it all for you
I gave it all for you by my side once more
Oh, I gave it all for you
I gave it ‘cause it’s harder to touch
The things that are dearer
I love you too much
To trust something clearer
I know I fell too far
But here you are
These are just a few of the things of my soul.
