Posts Tagged ‘Tenderness’
She Still Calls Me Honey
She Still Calls Me Honey
She Still Calls Me Honey
A Tribute To Marcia June Starr Ballestero
Who Has Been My Loving And Romantic Wife For Fifty Years.
No man has ever deserved a love so sweet as hers. Fifty years ago, Honey, was the first sweet name she called me when we fell in love, it’s what she still calls me now. I was very thrilled then and today I still am.
It started from the beginning when we both told each other, “I Love You!” Somehow, before the conversation was over, my new name became, Honey. It was just that easy for her!
- It was exhilarating to know I was a Honey to the girl I loved most!
- I felt cherished. I felt wonderful. I wanted to boast!
I’d never been anyone’s Honey before. I started walking around with that new Honey–feeling and it created a tingling in my heart. I felt different. I acted different. I was different. I was her Honey!
For fifty years or so, whenever I’ve heard that name called in a crowd, I immediately turn because I know it must be me being called. After all, I now am the man named, Honey.
- If I were a cowboy, the name wouldn’t have fit.
- Had I been a Marine, I would have suffered a bit.
How does one become a Honey?
How did I become a Honey in her eyes?
By the way, what is actually the definition of someone who is a Honey?
Webster says that a Honey is “a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; a sweetheart, a darling.
Honey is an affectionate term of address to a romantic partner, lover, or sweetheart.”
“Something sweet, delicious, or delightful.”
“An affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner.”
“To call someone Honey is to talk flatteringly or endearingly to.”
By calling me Honey…
- She is calling me her Sweetheart.
- She is saying I am her Dear.
- She is confessing I am her Lover.
- She is bragging that her Heart belongs only to me.
- That my Heart belongs only to her.
Even though by now she knows how imperfect I really am, she still calls me Honey. There have been days when lemon or persimmon would have described me much better, but she still called me Honey.
- “Honey,” I like that better than… “The Old Man,” or “Dodo.”
- It sure feels much nicer than… “Quail Head” or “Bozo”
Oh yes, when our babies were little, for their sake, she also added the name of Daddy in her vocabulary when they were in the room.
But now, even though our children are grown it is still the same. In our private moments, when she could call me whatever she really thinks of me, she still calls me Honey.
- When I am upset or stressed, my name is still Honey.
- When I have no money, my name is still Honey.
I have no memory of her ever starting a fuss. Yet, even when I was out of sorts, or out of line she still called me Honey.
- When I’ve embarrassed her and myself, she still called me Honey.
- When I needed to be put in timeout, she still called me Honey.
- When I had zits on my face too horrible to kiss, she still called me Honey.
- When I lost my hair, she still called me Honey.
- When I didn’t preach well at all, after church she still called me Honey.
- When some old friends criticized me and walked away, she stood by me and called me Honey.
She seldom ever calls me by the name my parents gave me. I’m always Honey to her. What makes her use that word? What have I done to deserve such a sweet name? Even when I’ve wrong, she still calls me Honey.
- How do you get mad a girl who calls you Honey and means it?
- How do you not respond sweetly to her words of endearment?
When I wake up, she says, “Good morning Honey!”
When I walk in the door she welcomes me home with, “Hi Honey.”
The sweetest words I can ever hope hear when answering my phone is, “Hi Honey!”
- It still fires up my furnace and turns all the lights on in my heart!
- I can still hear the Love oozing in her voice!
- I can still see the Love radiating in her eyes!
- I can still sense Romance as it walks into the room!
- She doesn’t throw that word around like a waitress in some cheap diner.
- She saved that word for only me, the one she chose to walk beside her.
Some say when a wife uses the word Honey that it soon becomes expensive for the man because some time and labor will certainly be involved. But, there have been no Honey–Do-Lists drawn up for me by her. I draw them up myself.
The things I do for her are the things I get to do for her as my way of showing appreciation and saying thank you for calling me Honey.
- She says it like she means it with her voice so soft and sweet.
- It’s the word romance is made of, there’s nothing that can compete
When she says Honey, she means it. She says in a way that:
- Softens the harshness of life
- Melts the feeling of pain
- Creates a spontaneous smile
- Nurtures the weariness
- Embraces the hurts
- And Comforts the soul
I have stood on the platform before huge crowds and referred to her publicly as “Sugar Booger.” Some people smile and shake their heads because they are embarrassed for my wife. There are many thousands and more who only know her by that name.
She has never bristled or looked embarrassed in public when I spoke those words. She knows that is not the name I use when we talk. When we are together and I am looking at her it only makes me think of words gentle, loving, soft and sweet, so I try to say them.
- There is nothing harsh about her.
- She doesn’t speak unkind words.
- She doesn’t ever nag.
- She never starts fights.
- Her touch is soft and gentle; her words are just the same.
- I am blessed to be around her and hear her call my name.
At this major marriage milestone of fifty years and counting, my bragging rights are still securely in place.
My special name is sealed forever in her heart and mine. I am the man she calls Honey… and I absolutely love it! I wouldn’t change it for the world!
She has spent fifty years calling me by the sweetness name she could think of. Her wondrous love for me could never be matched.
- So as your Honey, I thank you from the depths of my soul.
- Your love has nourished me and made me feel whole.
No man could have been made to feel his wife’s love than I.
No man ever deserved a love so sweet as yours.
No man could be happier with his marriage than I am.
Thank You, My Darling Marcia June Ballestero, For Loving Me Totally Without Restriction Or Reservation!
You’ve Made Fifty Years Of Loving You And Being Married Seem Like Just A Few Days…
And By God’s Mercy, It’s Not Over Yet. Because…
When We Get To Heaven And Start Looking For Each Other, The First Words I Want To Hear From Another Mortal Is You Saying,
“Hi Honey!”
I Truly Love You,
Marty, (Your Honey)
Give God What He Can Bless!
Give God What He Can Bless!
(Give God What He Likes, Give God What He Can Use.)
The song service had been sort of ‘average’. No one shouted. No one cried. We all just sang the songs and then waited for the prayer requests to be received. This Bible Study night was not going to be remembered for its worship service. I had done my best to lead the worship, but I just didn’t flow with the Spirit like I should.
On the way home, Dad said, “Son, have you ever noticed that God never blesses that last chorus you sang tonight?”
“No Sir,” was all I could say.
“If you lead long service in my church, then you need to be aware of what kind of songs God blesses.
“He doesn’t bless songs about ‘us’, He only blesses songs about ‘Him’. His Name, His Power, His Blood, His Love, His Mercy, His Grace. Sing about Him next time and He will bless it.”
“Thanks Dad.” I mumbled apologetically.
That, my gentle reader, is a lesson I never forgot. My Father was teaching me to give God what He could bless.
1. Cain
Cain never caught on to the concept. God was willing to bless a ‘lamb’ sacrifice. But, since Cain was not a sheepherder, but rather a tiller of the soil, he gave God fresh vegetables. God couldn’t bless a radish, an onion or a rutabaga. Blood had to be shed. God was only willing to bless a sacrificed lamb.
Because God ignored Cain’s sacrifice, and accepted Abel’s lamb sacrifice, Cain got mad and killed his brother.
Gen. 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen. 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen. 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- There are some Sacrifices God can’t bless.
- You will be disappointed when God doesn’t bless your sacrifice.
- He can’t bless that which is against His Word or His Will
Some want the Blessings of God regardless of how they have lived. Blessings never come when you starting thinking outside “God’s Box”.
2. Saul
In a spirit of disobedience and arrogance, Saul kept the spoils of war, spared King Agag and offered up a sacrifice. Samuel pronounced the curse of God upon him.
Saul admitted he had sinned; yet he wanted to be blessed in spite on his disobedience. He never understood that obedience was better than sacrifice. Not learning that lesson cost him his kingdom and the blessings of God.
1Sam. 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Give God a life that He can bless.
Give him a heart that He can bless.
Give God an attitude He can bless.
If Your Life Is Filled With These, God Can’t Bless It!
- Disobedience
- Bitterness
- Unbelief
- Rebellion
- Unconcern
- Disrespect
- Un-involvement
- Addictions
- Worldliness
- Carnal Lusts
- Sinner Boy Friend or Girl Friend
- Immorality
- Love of the World
- Jealousy
- Hatred
___________________________________________________________
Our idea of what God will bless, may be different than His.
Samuel – at Jesse’s House. Samuel was willing to anoint Jesse’s older sons to be the next king. God did not like what He saw in their hearts. The lad David was anointed King.
- David’s heart was what God was looking at.
- David had a love for Worship. No one made him praise the Lord.
- David was always quick to repent.
- God can bless that.
Give God What He Can Bless. He will always Bless:
- Submission
- Tenderness
- Obedience
- Faith
- Trust
- Mercy
- Honor
- Sacrifice
- Repentance
- Worship
- Praise
- Brokenness
- Humility
- Modesty
- Holiness
- Willingness
- Hunger
- Prayer Life
- Faithfulness
- Consecration
If you will Humble yourself, pray, seek His face in worship, and quit your sinning, God will hear your prayer, forgive you, and even bless your finances.
2Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
How bad do you want to be blessed?
Jacob told the Angel that wrestled with him: “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
When God blesses, He really blesses. He will bless you like this and more besides, if you just give him a life that can be blessed!
Deut. 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Deut. 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deut. 28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Deut. 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Deut. 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Deut. 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Deut. 28:7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Deut. 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deut. 28:9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
Deut. 28:10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
Deut. 28:11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deut. 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Deut. 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
You’ll never be blessed living for God ‘Your Way.” God only blesses us when we do things “His Way”! Are you giving God what He can bless?
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 