20 years ago we pledged forever and always with fancy
words and even fancier clothes. What did
we know? We knew what we had seen from
our families…that love could be beautiful and love could be forgiving and love
could last. What we didn’t know…what no
one can know until they attempt to live it…is that love can also be hard. Two imperfect people trying to rise above
their own selfishness…no easy task!
There were hard times and harsh words and frustration. Times when sin won and we let distance creep
in. Times where the beautiful wasn’t as
easy to see. But woven in the mess of everyday
living were threads of commitment and sacrifice and joy. Together, because of Christ, we’ve ridden
waves of sleepless nights and strong-willed kids and first days of school. We’ve marveled at baby toes, filled Christmas
stockings, and blown out birthday candles.
We’ve climbed mountains and crossed oceans. We’ve danced in the kitchen and cried in our
bed and felt every emotion in between. Together we’ve grown up, for better or for
worse, and in looking back I can see how God used every situation to bring us
here.
Here, where we love our children, but know that HE loves
them more.
Here, where we honor our marriage, not because of what we
can get or how good it feels, but because it brings HIM joy.
Here, where somehow in the laying it all down we find
love is only better and only fuller.
You’ve
held my hand when I have felt fear and failure and been my strongest
champion. You’ve spoken grace to me when
I have not deserved it. You’ve shown our
children how a real man treats a woman.
Today we
celebrate two decades. I pray there is a
lot of living and loving left to be done together. Someday when we’re old and sitting in our
rockers, I’ll say to you what you once wrote to me on an Easter card,
“I hope
on THE Resurrection, you’re the first
person I see.”
