On your birthday this year, dear Jim, I thought about how I know you from the various birdcall whistles that you make throughout the day and night.

I would easily say that for this husbandly classification the primary trait for locating you among your wonder-filled wilds is that you are known as a songbird, particularly a bird of exaltation!

Every guide also supplies the scientific Greek name for identification.

Yours is: Parakletos Praiserine

The genus is the word for the Comforter, or the Paraclete, the unique name that Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit. You are essentially aligned under the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within you who gives you songs like a living waterfall (Romans 15:13).

Praiserine is the species name that I have coined because I get to hear your songs even on those days when you have been greatly stretched. Song undergirds your nature, in all conditions, as your enthusiasm is indomitable because of the Cross of Jesus, His Resurrection, and the Comforter Whom the Father sent in Jesus’ name as His Spirit of the Truth (John 14:28).

You have one whistle that I call ecstatic because the birds even must long after it. It goes high into pitches that would normally hurt the ears, but it is tinged with such joy that it is like an unearthly praise song spiraling as a fragrant perfume into heaven (Psalms 141:2). I am transported by it to realms of joy.

Another one is your morning beeping notes as you feel your way into each day—new (Revelation 21:5). I believe that the birds do this too as they wake with a ready expectancy for the new dawn that brings them song and provision. A new day is never a habitual grind for you. Godly curiosity brings the music of your day.

Sometimes a romantic tune will well up from your heart and it becomes a special way that I identify you by your buoyant and tender nature (Psalms 33:3). Your ardent character is so precious. If it is usually women that are called romantic, you have broken this stereotype. Your salvation story is so radical that you truly know Jesus as the returning and victorious Bridegroom in a resounding way that affects your whole outlook here in the land of the living.

If you hear a song that you love, your accompaniment would cause the composer to wish they had included a whistle in the instrumentation (Ephesians 5:19). All of a sudden I know of the fearful and wonderful way that He has made us when I hear your whistle join in with an orchestra (Psalms 139:14).

Like the nightingale you have songs in the night that burst forth long after all the other birds have nestled restfully together in their leafy camouflage (Psalm 77:6). The sun is so empowering for creativity, but I have seen you work deep into the late night because even the darkness is light to you (Psalms 139:12). Darkness and light are alike for you in bright Jesus.

You have warning whistles that let this wife know you are nearby, to help with the skittishness that can come from concentration (Psalms 19:1). Like the birds in nature you have an alarm note that will not let your mate be unaware of anything that would come from behind. The sweetest gift in the Lord that I have received is the monogamous surety of my dear mate, and your covering of me is modeled in the way Christ loved the church and sacrificed Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).

You can easily imitate the birds overhead as the Lord has given you a wonderfully attentive ear (Luke 13:19). It is very instructive spiritually--this ability to have the ear to hear and repeat with accuracy. It is so with the Son who says His words are not His own, but the Father’s, and the Holy Spirit teaches what He has heard from Jesus (John 14:24-26). So keep chirping the birds’ calls, my dear, it is so up building to the heart of your wife.

Some birds are shy, and sing only at certain seasons. My dear husband-bird was born to speak and sing. It is true that you would hail people over by the side of the road to tell them about Jesus and His joy if you didn’t have a venue to teach, preach, write, and counsel. Your song is bold and forthright—a singular note that enlivens the ample neighborhood of your territory. It comes from a teachable heart to know His Word, and from the purity of a student’s joy fired by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). In nearly 37 years of marriage we have never found our fellowship in Christ to be boring or hackneyed. The wonderment and mystery of that song continues into eternity, my love (Psalms 73:28).

Some birds sing from their hidden tree refuges, but yours is from a high perch that overlooks the gorgeous locked garden from which you have come to learn how to receive from the One who made your song (Song of Solomon 4:12). As the birds that He uses as an example of His care, you know that only by His bestowal are you able to do anything for Him. The territory that your call marks out with great melody of meaning is how wide and deep you are able to show His glory (Luke 12:24).

An identifying bird mark that you share, dear husband, is the bright crown that you wear. It is the lovely glow of the tongues of fire that the Holy Spirit brings to your prayers. It is such passion that rests sweetly upon your head as you as you pray for dear-ones, and for the Lord’s will in our lives (Acts 2:3).

There are birds whose calls are likened to a wavering sonorous laughter. Your natural sense of humor is exuberant and so refreshing. It is when I hear your laughter that my heart is gladdened by the Lord’s goodness in our life. Your hearty humor is like the thread of a beneficent hymn through our three and a half decades as mates (Psalm 4:7).

If a bird’s call were listened to phonetically as an English statement, yours would be “Come here, come here, see His majesty!” It would be full of the grand warbling of the poet. He has woven such rhythm into your sweet being. You have sung in poetry since I first recognized your call as my lifelong mate.

I wondered about why the Lord gave me this theme in just this way for your birthday this year. In the last year, your 71st, you have written, sang, filmed and produced four songs to His great praise: Dancing Joy, and the three series of songs on the Wounds of Christ. These reside with lovely tribute to the Lord on your new website: www.gracingwords.com I am so grateful that we have these devoted songs as daily meditations for the presence of His song over our life!

Only now, did I realize that the Lord had filled my heart with such sparkling joy over the lovely passion of your work to create these as the extension of your life in words and song. As you soon will publish your second book in two years: The Adventures of a Fool for Christ (the central character here fairly sings constantly in rhyme), I believe that He is exhorting you to continue with all the plans that you have for each new lavishing of your brilliant singing love for Him. Your vibrant and always vital song, dear mate, inspires and fills my heart with such profound love for our Maker, and for you—His little singer!

I shall have my loving binoculars and telescope set to revel in these beauties that pour forth from your soaring heart. I adore being able to share in them. From my view you are always dressed in your spring plumage, which is most graciously also known as the bird’s nuptial plumage. It is the season when their songs are the most endearing, and that is the constant and darling sound of your song to me. Yes, dear husband, I know you uniquely by your birdsong—the territory-filling and overflowing Chorale of the Bridegroom!

Glorious day that it is, indeed—the day that He sent the love that would eventually flow from your fluttering cooing heart for Him! I celebrate you every day to the godly sway of the music that rolls from our lovely bough in His grand protection and love!

“Come here, come here, see His majesty!”