Will she treat him gently?

I zip up my little boy's pajamas. His trusting hazel eyes look into my brown ones. His innocent lips speak my favorite name, "Mommy." As I caress his beautiful face between my two hands, all the tenderness of this little man-boy, this precious treasure, overwhelms me and tears I can't control begin to flow. My mind flashes ahead to the woman he will one day give his heart to, unite his life with, and I wonder, "Will she treat him gently?"

Will she see beneath the strong exterior that men wear to the loving little boy inside, who just wants to be loved? When the world demands he be strong despite what comes, will she treat him gently?

When he comes home from work grouchy, having had a tough day, will she count to ten, take a deep breath, kiss his cheek and tell him that she's glad that he's home? Will she allow him to have a bad day? Will she treat him gently?

When he leaves his clothes all over the floor, or right next to the laundry hamper, will she gripe at him or will she consider that he doesn't mean to be inconsiderate? His mind was already focusing on his work day. Will she treat him gently?

Will she stop to consider all he does for her and his children, to provide, to maintain the vehicles and house, to give them as much as he can of what they ask for? Will she realize that he gives himself for his family? When he falls asleep from exhaustion while she's talking to him, will she turn off the light and let him sleep, knowing they can talk in the morning? Will she treat him gently?

Will she ever look at him and realize that one day he was a precious little boy, and all he wanted was his mommy's love and his daddy's approval? Will she be able to imagine that one day he was laying on his mommy's bed while his mommy cupped her hands around his tiny, vulnerable and pure face, and prayed with all her heart that he would choose someone who would treat him gently?

Right then my husband walks out of the closet after getting dressed for the work day, handsome and strong. His tender blue-eyed gaze warms me to my very soul, and makes me feel contented and happy. I thought, do I treat him gently? 

When he's grouchy, do I forgive him or react in kind? Do I allow him to have a bad day? Do I treat him gently? 

When he wants to work all day outside on the day I've been hoping he'd help me accomplish some tasks inside the house, do I appreciate what he does, realizing that he is doing his best to maintain our home even if we have different ideas about what to do first? Do I treat him gently?

When he wants to talk and talk about work, do I listen with all my heart or do I tell him what to do? Do I treat him gently?

When we disagree about how to approach a situation with the children, do I become angry or realize that he has a valid point as their father? Do I treat him gently?

When he's telling me again that we need to curtail our spending and stick to the budget, do I bristle up thinking that he's mad at me or controlling me? Or do I realize that he works diligently to provide for us and our future, and I can show that I appreciate and respect that by doing to my best to eliminate unnecessary spending? Do I treat him gently?

Do I look at those loving blue eyes and imagine that he was once a little boy laying on his mommy's bed while she zipped his pjs, looking up into her blue eyes with complete trust and love? And that maybe, just maybe, she prayed that whomever he chose to marry would treat him gently?

Weeping in broken-hearted remorse, I pray, "Oh God, please give me the grace to treat my husband and sons and daughter gently, so they may learn to treat others gently, too."