To know Chris Tiner is to know an impressively genuine person. There are many people who could list the faults of him, but that is to be expected considering that he wears his heart on his sleeve, does not change based on who he is around, and cannot for the life of him even attempt to be someone he is not. This can make him an easy target for criticism...He is himself, much to the consternation of those who are in the business of trying to change everyone to be more like themselves.
To know Chris Tiner is to know someone who is passionate and vocal about his loves. If you have spent five minutes with him, you know he loves the greatest country on earth (Texas), all sports related or formerly related to it, and its food (Tex-Mex). You would also know that he loves people, and would be surrounded by them all the time if his introverted wife would let him. He does not love half-heartedly...he invests of himself wholeheartedly.
But I have had the privilege of knowing Chris as his wife. And today, on our ninth anniversary, I would like to share a few things about my husband that many of you may never get to see.
1) Chris is ridiculously intelligent. Chris' outgoing, fun-loving nature often produces the effect of making people think he can't possibly have been serious enough in school to do well. Of course, I won't pretend that he was always the world's best student (and he wouldn't pretend that either), but he writes beautifully, outshines me in math (much to my egotistical dismay), spells just as well if not better than I do, and unfortunately usually beats me in every trivia game. And he writes and delivers beautiful sermons...although he'd much rather tell you his testimony for a few hours. :)
2) Chris has a very clear sense of right and wrong, and lives to a standard that is consistent wherever he goes. Now if you have gotten to know Chris Tiner, he has no doubt shared his testimony with you. There was a time three and a half years ago when he traded his standard in for a lie, and that was the only time I have seen him try to be someone he was not. I can tell you that since that time, he has not wavered for a second. And he is tireless in his resolve to keep others from going down the same path he went down. He is constantly trying to "live under God's umbrella," meaning that he always wants to know God's will for his life and live in it (and under it) each moment.
3) Chris is a WONDERFUL husband. I do not wake up doubting that I am loved. I don't wake up doubting I'm beautiful. I NEVER doubt that Chris will be excited to see me and talk to me, and tell me absolutely everything that's going one, whether minor or major. I don't worry about caring for the kids all by myself. Chris is a part of everything I do. I don't have to worry about whether or not my needs or wants will be met that day because Chris is constantly trying to anticipate and fulfill them. He is as non-traditional as husbands come...he cooks, cleans, changes diapers, while also still being the handyman around the house. What is it that I do, you ask? He probably wonders the same thing. :)
4) Chris talks as much at home as he does everywhere else. Women speak 20,000 words a day, men speak 7,000 words a day? Not in my house. It's quite reversed. I rarely, rarely, rarely have to work at getting Chris to talk to me. He will drop whatever he's doing to do it. As soon as he's done with something that I wasn't able to do with him, he will call me and tell me all about it. Even if he's watching a game on TV, he will try to include me in on his thoughts. I hear that's impressive...I don't know any different.
5) As much as Chris likes to talk about his own interests, he is constantly opening himself up to learning about things that interest others. In being married to me, he has gone to great lengths to become an expert on the things that matter to me, and is always looking for things that I can watch, see, or do that involve those things.
6) Life with Chris is never, ever boring. And it hasn't been since the day he came into my life.
7) Chris is proud of me. He doesn't question my abilities. He always supports any endeavor I try. He thinks I'm attractive even in my scroungiest moments. He is my safe harbor. He is my biggest fan. His love for me is unselfish, compassionate, and encouraging. He is the man God designed specifically for me.
8) Chris is himself. If you had to, you could come up with a list of weakness and faults that go along with these wonderful qualities. And many people, sadly, seem to use most of their energy to do so. But I am so thankful to know the whole of him, and praise God for the amazing work He did in creating my Chris. I know that I've left out a huge number of more great things, but it's four in the morning, and my mind is spent.
I love you, Chris Tiner. I don't deserve you. Thank you for choosing me.
