When the Lion Didn’t Roar at Home

This week, God walked me straight into a mirror I didn’t really want to look at. He had me re-examining my role as a husband—not just in theory, but in the way I’ve actually shown up (or not) for Susie over the last 39 years.

Turns out, I’ve got the gentle lamb thing down pretty well. I’m patient. I don’t blow up. I don’t get mad easily.

But I’m not the lion. Not the fierce protector Jesus is for His Church. And that hit me hard.

I saw all these ways I’ve failed to protect and lead my wife—not with force, but with steadiness, backbone, and clear direction. The kind of strength I was actually pretty good at showing in my work life. At work, I mentored, made hard decisions, protected my team. Eventually. It took me too long to get there, because early on I led by what was most popular, not by what was most right. And I can see now how that pattern bled into my family life too.

I sacrificed. I cared. But I wasn’t leading at home the way I should’ve been.

And I wonder how many of us—especially us men—do the same. We lead like lions at work… and leave the people who matter most without that same strength and protection at home.

I’m not done learning here. But I do know this: Jesus is both the Lamb and the Lion. And I want to be more like Him, especially for the woman who’s walked beside me all these years.