Grace For a Season

FROM THE TOP: 

     When Angela first decided to help lead an online women's Bible study called "Bibles and Basketball", I was ecstatic for her, not to mention extremely proud of her for taking on such an important leadership position which demanded much of her time and devotion. From its outset I could tell how seriously she was taking the responsibilities of her role, especially when she hit me with THE RULES. Uh oh!!! Rules??? I can remember feeling my facial expressions change from one emotion to another, going through phases which probably resembled the best selection of emojis. Before my smile turned to a frown, she made it very clear to me that in order for this to work I had to follow THE RULES.  "Don't worry," she said, "there's only two and they're simple." #1 "Keep Two Eyes on Jincy" and #2 "Absolutely no listening in on calls" for the sake of privacy of the other women involved in the study, AKA GIRL TALK. I didn't know which of these two tasks would be more difficult. Jincy can be a little humming bird in the morning (FUN FACT: A hummingbird's heart can beat up to 1,400 times a minute). In other words, Jincy stays busy and I think that humming bird has met its match. 

 

On top of that, her and Angela are like magnets, two very strong magnets, especially when Jincy decides she's ready to eat. 

 

    Furthermore, being forbidden to listen to my favorite person talk about OUR favorite PERSON, Jesus, would be tough not to bend an ear to. But I promised to give my best, because this was important for the betterment of our family as well as for the Kingdom work at hand, and besides I am always up for a challenge.   

 

RECAP: 

    This has been a very special season for our family. Our second year in Qatar is coming to a close and I am more than happy to say that "We are more than HAPPY". God has been so good to us!  We've had the opportunity to witness our little Ms. Jincy Rose blossom into the most amazing little girl. At one year and a half, we've been amazed by her  progress. She loves to entertain  passing strangers, performing nearly  everything she knows in her own little act in which we've nicknamed "The Jincy Routine". No really, it's a full act, and she expects an applause after everything she does. Don't worry she doesn't charge admission, not yet anyways. 

 

She loves for us to read her books, she's memorized her ABC's and numbers 1-11, along with about 25 kids praise and worship songs (Thanks Mrs. Faye). Throw her THE ROCK (basketball) and she knows exactly what to do with it; dribble, pass, catch, and shoot. 

 

 

Are you surprised? Do I sound like a proud Dad yet? Nothing makes Angela and I more proud than when Jincy sings "Jesus Loves Me" and asks us to pray with her in the morning or before we eat meals. To hear her precious little voice say "amen" is nothing short of angelic. Believe me, I could go on and on and on about our Jincy and about God's grace.

 

 

Certainly, when I said this season has been special, I wasn't merely referring to this season of basketball, although that too has been highlighted by God's grace. Two major championships, Most Valuable Player, Import of the Year, and All First Team Honors were among the accolades I received.  

 

 

 

Clearly, the success I experienced on the court this year, and last year for that matter, has everything to do with what I have been blessed with off the court, the real SUPERSTAR of our family, what truly matters, and what's made not only this season but my life so special, my beautiful wife, Angela. 

 

LOOKING BACK: I must admit, two years ago I adopted a very selfish way of thinking, in that me and my job were responsible for the unique circumstances of living abroad, traveling the world, and the many other perks that go go along with being paid to do something I love to do. I didn't do this knowingly, nor out of arrogance, but rather in a sense of pride a man has in being able to provide for his family. Foolishly, I let this go to my head. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but these are the words my heart wished to manifest the intensity of my convictions and the amount of indignation I now feel toward this self-centered and worldly way of thinking which couldn't be anything further from the truth. This could have been catastrophic to our family and prevented this beautiful season of life we find ourselves in today. 

 

THE PROCESS: But thank God for His  grace, in allowing me to recognize my warped way of thinking, and in my repentance He was able reveal His truth to me. Simply put, this is not about me or my job! And I am definitely not the only one working. If anything, Angela retains more job titles, carries more weight, and contributes more to our family in invaluable ways. Who sacrifices their own dreams in the support of another's? A loving wife does. Who has an innate capacity to care for a child in the midst of tireless days and restless nights? An amazing mother does. But those are not what she considers to be her jobs, she does them willingly and with love far beyond my love for the game of basketball. Shall I continue?  She's a friend, an advocate, counselor, trainer, motivational speaker, coach, business partner, and right now she's even my nurse as I recover from an injury. The list goes on and on. In times when I struggle and my confidence wavers she is my encourager. When pay checks don't come in for months at a time (yes that happens) as my praying partner she reminds me of our faith in who He is, Jehovah-Jireh "the Lord will provide". She willingly, in the love for her family, becomes anything and everything the time calls for her to be, but what I appreciate calling her more than anything, is calling her MY OWN. I am humbled to say, by the grace of God and the love my wife, THANK YOU.

 

 

 

THIS VERY MOMENT: After Jincy just did a 100 yard dash out of our bedroom, around the corner, and out of my sight, when I finally caught up to her in the front room she was already magnetically connected to her Momma "eating".  As I sit down on the other side of the room to catch my breath, I open up my Bible to do some studying of my own. I can't help but to overhear my wife as she prays over the final Bible study of the season. I can feel my heart pverflow with joy and it's taking all of my restraint to quietly praise God for the grace He's demonstrated to my wife and amongst this called group of women from around the world that's been brought together by their mutual faith in Jesus Christ, encouraging one another to seek out the prospect of virtue, honor, and glory all found in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am amazed at the work God has done and the love that's been poured out in this once group of strangers but now sisters in Christ connected by His Spirit. 

 

Through the many stories Angela has shared with me about these families, their trials, tribulations, triumphs, and similar circumstances, we've learned to appreciate our marriage and family, and have grown more intimate in our spiritual walk together. To the creator of this group, Megan, I thank God for using you to make this possible along with the other leaders for your faith in God and the love you showed my wife. I know I am not the only proud husband, but I think I speak for us all when I say, it sure is a blessing to have a virtuous wife. By God's Grace.

 

Sincerely, 

Dominic James Wright

Thanks as always for all the support, love, and prayers from near and far!

Here are more pictures from our time in Qatar, follow us on IG @NeekieWright & @Ang______________