Thirteen years ago yesterday, Scott
and I stood before God and many witnesses to proclaim our love and commitment
to one another for the rest of our lives.
Fourteen years ago we met for the first time. I was a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding and
Scott was the best man. Scott gave the
toast to our friends that night and I knew immediately he would be the one I
was going to marry. Driving home that
night, I literally almost got in a wreck I was so star struck. Scott on the other hand didn’t have a clue. When the groom asked Scott what he had done
to Alicia, Scott promptly replied: “Alicia who?”
I love to tell the story of how we
met, how God eventually revealed to Scott who I was, and how over the next year
God wove our hearts closer and closer together.
(There are so many other details to our story, but they will have to be
shared at another time. Or just come
over for some hot tea and we can talk!) But
as much as I thought I was in love thirteen years ago as I stood at the front
of the church dressed my best with all the planning coming to its culmination, nothing
compares to what is in my heart today. It
is not because our marriage mirrors a fairy tale or reflects a Hollywood
movie. No. It is much more than that.
Scott and I, like every other couple,
stood before each other and sincerely gave our lives to one another on March 6,
1999. And like every other couple, we
naively thought we would be able to survive anything that came our way. We loved each other and we could defy the
odds of the divorce rate. However, like
every other couple, life hits and our commitment is tested. Out of the five high stress events you are
suppose to avoid have happen all at the same time (if possible), we had four
our first year of marriage. We got
married, Scott graduated from A& M, Scott started a new job, and we had our
first child. Now if having all of that
happen within the first year of marriage doesn’t bring out the true you in a
marriage, I don’t know what will.
The next twelve years has brought numerous
other stress events into our marriage. It
has not been easy road. Most couples do
not make it past the first, second, or even seventh year of marriage. Conflict arises the first year and they
decide they are not really compatible.
The second through fifth years, children typically arrive on the scene. While it seems exciting for the first nine
months of the pregnancy, the reality of supporting and raising a child and the
time that it takes to do it infringes on the couple-only relationship. By year seven the realities of life, the
pressures of jobs, and the lack of knowing who they are married to because they
have not set aside time to continue to date one another and learn how to
effectively communicate pushes many couples away from their commitment to the
person they once said they “couldn’t live without.” So how have we made it to the 13 year marker
in the midst of some very difficult times…
God’s Grace! To Him be all the Glory and Honor and
Praise.
God is the One who has and is and
will continue to be the third cord in our marriage. Without Him our marriage is nothing but two
sinners striving to do the best they can in their own strength and throwing in
the towel when they have had enough.
Through God’s hand in our marriage and in our individual lives God has
expanded my heart to love Scott in a way I never knew possible thirteen years
ago. It has been through the trials and
hardships of our marriage that has sweetened the multitude of joys our marriage
has experienced. We have laughed till
our sides hurt, shared our inner most thoughts and dreams, bravely experienced
new things together, served together in missions, watched our four beautiful
children experience their own ups and downs, and just had fun together. My heart has changed and God has been
glorified.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
My Heart’s Prayer: Lord, thank you
so much for one of the greatest gifts you have given to me. Thank you so much for a loving husband who
seeks not after his own interests, but also to the interests of his wife and
family. Thank you for bringing Scott and
I together thirteen years ago and for bringing us through easy as well as
difficult times. Thank you for the
opportunity to see your character through those difficult times and to have the
honor in giving You the praise and glory that only You deserve. I humbly ask that You continue to use our
marriage to reflect Your character to others so that they too may see the love
You have for them in order that they may enter into a personal relationship
with You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Happy 13th Anniversary to My Best
Friend.
I love you!
I love you!
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