Skip to main content

To my Husband, on seven years of marriage

Happy anniversary sweetheart! I feel so grateful and blessed for the seven years we have been married together. 

We got married at age 29 and 30 respectively (which seemed so old at the time!) But although we'd both accomplished many things separately in our single adult lives, nothing had really prepared us for the challenges-and the joys- that marriage would bring. All we knew on that beautiful snowy day was that we loved each other, we believed God had brought us together, and we were excited to begin life as husband and wife. 


We quickly realized that building a strong marriage would be a challenge-filled task.

Some of the challenges along the way have been internal, from our own sinful tendencies: selfishness, unwillingness to forgive, unfair expectations, laziness, etc.. Marriage has been a microscope that magnifies these faults. (I forget where I read that illustration but it is so true.) Yet at the same time, God is using marriage to chip away at these faults. It's an ongoing process.

We've had our share of external challenges as well, trials that left us clinging to each other in tears of pain or grief. I don't need to list the trials. You and I know the heartbreak and pain we've experienced as a couple. At times I haven't known how we would make it. But God has led us and guided  us and we've weathered many storms hand in hand.

We've also faced the challenges that just naturally arise because we are very different people. But I truly believe that God planned it that way. 

  • God knew that one very punctual man would marry one not-so punctual woman. 
  • God knew that a fairly reserved woman would marry a more outgoing man.
  •  God knew that a woman who likes trying a variety of cuisines would marry a man who loves meat and potatoes. 
  • God knew that a woman who enjoys classical music and watching Jane Austen movies would marry a man who enjoys bluegrass music and watching NASCAR races. 
God knew about all of these difference and many MANY more. He brought two very different people with very different opinions, strengths and weaknesses into each other's lives for a purpose. To glorify Him. 

More and more, as I think about our marriage, I see how good God was to bring us together. We have shared many sorrows, but we have shared many more joys and they have been doubled because we are together. I love you and I choose you for today and always. Here's to many more years of life together. Thank you for loving me. Happy anniversary my love. Let's keep building. Together.

Love,

Your sweetheart



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

God is doing a new thing..

 On March 18, 2022, I thought I might never be happy again. I sobbed my goodbyes to the man I loved and who I thought I'd grow old with. He was in many ways my world, along with our then four year old son. My world shattered that day.  But God had other plans. Do I understand why God allowed Matt to go home to Glory at age 38? Do I understand why all of our hopes and plans for the future were swept away on a tide of seemingly unending grief? No. I don't.  But I have seen God take the shards of my broken heart and fit them back together into something created for His honor.  Several months after my husband's untimely death, I struck up a friendship with one of Matt's closest friends, Ryan. We started texting each other about all kinds of random things: funny stories from our day, encouragement from Scripture, favorite memories or movies or events...we never seemed to run out of things to say to each other. I was finding myself very interested. But the timing was not r...

Slippers

   It is a frosty October morning. A new moon hangs in the pale sky.  And I slide my feet into your old slippers.  The thought occurs that I don't need to apologize for borrowing them anymore.  You used to ask me not to take them. They were broken in just right for you.  I had my own slippers. But after you died, I threw my own away. I didn't need them. I had yours. My feet needed to fit in the imprints you left. So I take a deep breath and open the door, And though my breath rises like a ghost into the cold air My feet and heart are warm as I whisper, "thank you."

Pregnancy Loss and a gracious God

  He makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Psalm 113:9 A week ago, this verse would have made me angry. But as I slowly begin to heal after a miscarriage, I am finding comfort in that precious verse. This was my third pregnancy loss. Twice within our first year of marriage, my husband and I experienced this sorrow. It was heartbreaking. But we recovered as best we could. Finally, after almost a year of trying, I conceived again. We were so thrilled. We got in to see the OB doctor very early and I was closely monitored. All seemed fine. We got to see our little bean’s heart beating fast at just 5 and a half weeks on Dec. 22. (That was a joy we had not experienced with our other pregnancies which both ended before a heartbeat was detected.) Though I struggled with nausea and fatigue, I rejoiced at these symptoms of what I hoped was a healthy pregnancy. On January 12, I had another ultrasound. I was about 8 and a half weeks along....