Twenty Years

 

20 years ago today, I married my very best friend! We were so young and so "in love" and full of so many hopes and dreams. I was soooo excited that day knowing that we would no longer have to say "good bye" and wait until the next day to see each other.

20 years ago today, I stood before God, my soon to be husband, our families and friends and vowed for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish till death do us part.

 During the past 20 years there have been soooooo many "better" times. The Lord is so good and gracious and has daily poured out so many of his blessings upon us.
But, like in any marriage, there have been some "worse" times. A married couple walking in the Spirit together is beautiful! A married couple walking after the flesh...whether it's one or the other or both...isn't so beautiful!
There are still a lot of birthdays celebrated today for the young and old alike, but there are not too many anniversaries and the ones that are celebrated hardly make it past the first decade.

 There isn't a whole lot of encouragement for struggling couples to stay together. Marriage vows seem to mean so little. And there are hurting and broken hearts of men, women, and children everywhere. And as our families suffer, our nation suffers.
Satan is a deceiver, a divider, a destroyer. God put man and woman in the garden and said that two become one flesh and that this is VERY GOOD. Satan says it is not good. That it is only good if that man or woman treats me that way I want to be treated and doesn't hurt me too much. And that really, what God said is good, well it would be much better if you were with someone else or by yourself. Satan says it would be better for the children, better for you...it would be so much better to not have to suffer like you have been.

 In 20 years, I have known the sheer utter misery of thinking about following my own desires. Those that seem to be so good and right.
But praise the Lord, in 20 years, I have known the most deepest, richest, wonderful joy of following God's way. I've known the peace that only comes from Him. To forgive and be forgiven. To LOVE! Not the "in love" feeling that I had on my marriage day (although that is still there too) but that deep, amazing love that only God can work in the heart of a couple that are committed to Him and to each other.

 20 years ago , I was 22 years old and woke up in the arms of my 22 year old husband.
Today, I am 42 years old and woke up in the arms of my 42 year old husband.
And it is sooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!

 Today twelve children are giddy with excitement because it's mommy and daddy's anniversary. They gave me hugs, want to know what we are going to do, want to decorate the house, celebrate with us, and it brought tears to my eyes when one of them said, "I can't wait to have what you and daddy have together".
It hasn't been easy, but it's been soooooooooooooo very good!!!!