Gospel artist and 7-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin gave his wife of nineteen years the best anniversary gift by performing a grand romantic gesture - declaring to the world how much their marriage means to him.

In an article  written by Franklin on Patheos.com, Franklin credits his wife Tammy as his source of inspiration, saying that his music and ministry would be "dead on arrival" if not for her.

Franklin, who came from a broken home, said that because of his background, he didn't have a role model to follow and based his perception of marriage only on what he saw on television or what he witnessed from married men who weren't big fans of the institution.

In his article, he acknowledged his own imperfections and expressed his appreciation for his wife for being there for him, accepting him for who he was and helping him become more mature. He even urged women to follow his wife's example. 

"She didn't beat me up for what I wasn't. Ladies, that is so important. We get that enough from the world. That beat up feeling is universal to every man no matter your socio-economic condition. So we need a light; a beacon; someone to say 'Get up. Fight.' Tammy did that," he said.

Franklin disclosed that since he asked Tammy to marry him nineteen years ago when he was just 18 years old, they have gone through a lot of experiences that have helped them stay in love, and that is the legacy he wants to leave for their children.

"I love being married to her. And the fear of a lifeless boring life with no fun and youthful fire was a life that had to be created by the both of us. See, men don't want to adjust, to bend, to die. That's the word; die. Not in some dreadful dark cloud type of way, but to take the focus off of yourself and realise that you're not the best YOU that you can be until you find that soulmate that ignites that better you," he said.