My husband has an inch long scar just above the inside of his left elbow.

He got it on the evening of February 17th, 2008.  Around 7pm.  There was about three feet of snow on the ground at the time and we spent four hours in the emergency room.

I am the only person in the world who knows this about him…who knows the details of this moment in his life.  I know how it happened.  I know what he was doing.  I know the first words he said to me afterwards.  I know all of this.  And no one else does.

And that moment…is an immense blessing in my life.  Because that moment – like so many others – remind me of how lucky I am to be his wife…how lucky I am to call him my husband.  Even when it means pain is happening…when wounds are healing…when blood is dripping.

To think that we share in people’s lives in a capacity that no one else knows about it is perhaps the most beautiful gift ever bestowed on us.  Because it means that we’re walking this road with someone by our side.  You are witnessing their life and they are witnessing yours.  And that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Steve and I have been together a little over ten years.  At the time, I was perhaps the most shattered version of myself that I’ve ever been.  And yet, he loved me enough for both of us…he believed in me enough for both of us…he held strong enough for both of us.  And then he held my heart in the palm of his hand and promised not to let anything happen to it.  Much like that night when he got his scar…there are pieces of me that only he knows about.  When the pain was happening…when the wounds were healing…when the blood was dripping.

It’s so easy to forget it all though.  To forget how precious that trip your taking together really is.  As the years pile up…as the mortgage payment awaits…as the children take your time.  It’s easy to forget.  And then I’ll roll over in bed sometime in the night…I’ll see that scar…and I’ll remember.  I’ll remember that only I know about it.  And the only reason I know about it…is because he let me know about it.  He chose me to witness his life…he chose me to be the other half of those secret moments…he chose me to sit with him in the emergency room for four hours!

Today, we celebrate the most wonderful man I’ve ever known.  We shower him with well wishes…hand made cards…and a few gifts.

But really, the gift is all mine…because he is all mine.

Happy birthday, my beloved!

Thank you for choosing me to hold your heart in the palm of my hand and for letting me promise not to let anything happen to it.  Though perhaps we should have made the same vows about your arm!

xoxo