Introducing Mrs. Gould

It’s hard to know where to start. If I started from the beginning, I wouldn’t finish. But if I don’t say how it began, then you won’t know just how precious she is.

I guess I’ll start with the vital statistics. A praying woman. Blonde bombshell. A very insightful wife. A Youth worker and number-two at Women In Touch. She’s also tall, which is great when you’re 6′ 3″ yourself. Also, she’s the holder of my heart and companion of my life.

I met Faye when she was 15 at a prayer meeting. I remember thinking “wow, she can pray” – unfortunately a rather rare thing among Christians today. It wasn’t long before I became very (*very*) fond of her and started writing poetry about her in secret. On August 27th 2003 we started dating. We were engaged a year later, and married on 25th June 2005, which as of writing, is 4 years ago today. So, happy anniversary sweetheart! (P.S. You can see wedding and honeymoon photos on flickr)

Faye is an outstanding woman. First of all, she’s a smart cookie. She excelled at college and university (she has a 1st) despite being dyslexic. She’s employed by the The Ivy Project, Devon County Council and V Involved, where she waves to her targets as she passes them by every quarter. Her work with the young people at Ivy, as well as the detached youth work she does two evenings a week, are a joy to her. It’s a funny thing to watch your English Rose go from cream tea and Paul Smith to relating with teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds and talk their language. But that’s the woman I’ve married and I love it.

It’s the same passion and desire to help people that drives her at Women In Touch – the Women’s ministry that operates out of our church. I am astounded how, after working in a target driven youth organisation, she can then come and work (as a volunteer) at WIT and manage their yearly Touch Conference. This year they are giving away a car, have 200 ladies coming from around the Country and Europe, and are running at a budget twice the size of last year.

She always jokes that as a husband, I need to “upgrade” every quarter to stay up-to-date. But she is the one who continually reads, thinks, asks questions, and pushes herself to do more than she did last year. For every young man reading, this is the kind of wife Proverbs 31 talks about. And I encourage you not to settle for less. I was the first man Faye kissed – it seems out of date for many, but she has absolutely no regrets. She was the first and only serious relationship I’ve had.

Faye and I say that when you give God your best, He gives you the best, and this is never truer than it is today.

And you’ve got to know, she has a way about her. Like Billy Joel said,

She’s got a way about her, don’t know what it is, but I know that I can’t live without her…
She has a smile that heals me, don’t know what it is, but I have to laugh when she reveals me…
She comes to me when I’m feeling down, inpsires me without a sound…

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing” is what Proverbs says. And oh, how I have a good thing in Faye. What once was just a beautiful relationship, over 4 years has become an intimate, supportive and joy-bringing union.

So, my wife, I love you and thank God for you. To quote Jerry, “you complete me”. You’re my dulcissime.