Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil .
Today, Robert and I celebrate 9 years of marriage. That is worth celebrating!! As I think back on the years, I see God's incredible faithfulness, grace and love all over our marriage. And I am so grateful!
I am very much a work in progress, but I have seen God's hand at work, miraculously, in our marriage this past year especially and I can't help but share a few things He has taught me and is continuing to teach me everyday.
Marriage is hard! But it is oh so sweet when we surrender it to Jesus and let Him mold us into the people He has created us to be. Here's what I'm learning, perhaps something will encourage you in your marriage today.
~We are in a battle...not with each other, but for each other. The bible is very clear that we have an enemy who's only 'MO' is to steal, kill and destroy. In my opinion, the first place he targets is the heart of the home, your marriage. Remember, you are not fighting against each other! Rather lock arms together and fight for each other.
~Forgive quickly and fully. We have the opportunity to forgive big and little things, daily. Forgive the big and the little and move on. Just as Jesus has forgiven us, we are to forgive others.
~Love never fails. The world will tell us that love isn't enough. But it absolutely is! Love, Christ's love, is more than enough and will never, ever fail.
~Give grace, abundantly. Nobody is perfect. Don't hold your spouse to standards you are not willing to fulfill yourself. Give grace!
~Seek to understand, not be understood. Make it your goal to understand your spouse, to ask questions, to study them as you did when you were dating. The more we seek to understand, the more we are understood. Sounds illogical, but it's true.
~Dream together. Life has a way of stealing our dreams from us. Take them back! Dream together and find a way to pursue those dreams together.
~Love well. It is easy to get caught up in the "game" of "I'm not feeling loved, so I'm not going to give love." Don't play that game! Figure out how your spouse feels loved and then fill that "love tank" up to overflowing, everyday! And when you think you have nothing left to give, tap into the Source of love and love some more!
~Pray. Pray for each other...together and separately. There is nothing better you can do for your spouse and marriage, than to surround, inundate, saturate your spouse and marriage in prayer. Prayer is powerful!
~Encourage. Be your spouse's biggest encourager! Always see the best in them and never, ever stop telling them what you love about them and that you are proud of them.
~Celebrate. Celebrate the big and little things. Celebrate accomplishments together and just celebrate who your spouse is. There is beauty, and something to celebrate, in each day. Look for it.
~Remember. Remember why you fell in love. Remember that God is for you and your marriage. Remember that your love and your spouse are worth fighting for, always.
I am so grateful for my life with Robert. There have been incredibly difficult times and incredibly beautiful times and I am grateful for them all. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, He uses all things for His glory. And through marriage, we have the privilege of understanding a little bit more how much Christ loves us and how we can, in turn, love like Christ.
Happy Anniversary, Babe! There is nobody else I would rather walk through life with than you. Here's to countless more years together!
