Why I’m Glad My Future Wife is Going to be a Teacher

On November 17^th, I’ll finally be tying the knot with the woman that God intended for me to marry. I know He’s wanted me to marry Dana for a long time, but I never made it easy for Him – or her for that matter. It took a long time for me to wake up and realize how much I need her in my life, but by the grace of God I finally did.

Dana continually makes me a better man, softening my heart and challenging me to become a more faithful follower of Jesus. She makes me wise beyond my years and humbles me on a daily basis with her loving and gracious heart, and makes me care more and love more than I ever thought possible. But as incredible as all these things are about her, one of my favorite things is that she’s a teacher.

In honor of her birthday next month, I’ve decided to list the reasons I’m thankful my future wife has chosen to become a teacher.

She shares the same vocation as me.
Nothing makes a man feel more alive than when a woman understands and buys into his calling in life. The only thing that can make it better is sharing that vision together. I believe I was born to teach and communicate life-changing ideas in a simple way, and to share this vision with another person is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. I love being able to bounce ideas off of her and share what I’m working on, as well as hearing about the successes, challenges, and life lessons she encounters along the way.

She’s a perfectionist.
We need dedicated teachers who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their students understand what is being taught. Dana continually works long hours, crafting her lesson plans to impact each student in a unique and special way. She always takes the extra time and attention to make sure that no student is left behind, and does everything in her power to ensure that her students are prepared to succeed at the next level.

She teaches for the outcome, not the income.
I couldn’t stop smiling when she first told me this. It frustrates me when people look down on teachers and ask why they’re willing to do such a difficult job for such little pay. What better response can you give? If only everyone performed their jobs for the outcome and not the income, imagine how different the world would be. Her dedication and passion continually humble me and remind me that work is about the people, not the paycheck.

She teaches me how to invest in others.
This is where she really amazes me. Not only does Dana go the extra mile in ensuring that each student is taught according to the way they learn best, but she also is willing to spend the time with each student to get to know them on a personal level outside the classroom. She has only been a student-teacher to this point, but Dana loves talking about what she plans on doing when she finally gets a classroom of her own. She’s going to be the teacher always bringing in snacks, making learning fun, meeting with the parents in their homes, and attending her student’s soccer games and other activities (I guess this means I’m going too).

I know she’s going to be embarrassed by this post which is certainly part of the fun, but when you get to marry the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you, you just want to tell everyone about it. I love you Dana Mayfield and thank you for being a continual blessing in my life.