Thursday, May 09, 2013

Marriage is a Walk in a Field of Daisies . . .

Pin It Now!




. . . until you chance upon a hidden snake in your path. Or two or three. Or more.


Ya know, I really didn't have a clue that my fairy tale ideal of marriage would be blown away so easily as a pile of dead leaves. And so soon, too. I guess I have to admit, I was naive. I thought that because we were doing things "differently" it'd be easier for us.

My husband and I are celebrating 16 years of marriage tomorrow, and I must say we've battled quite a few snakes in our little field. I wish I could say we've managed to shoo 'em all away or better yet blow their brains out, but a few have managed to rear their ugly heads and sink their venomous fangs deep into our very souls. Poison spreads fast if you didn't already know.

Over the years, I have come to realize that snakes are as much a part of fields as problems are a part of marriage. You won't ever be able to completely get rid of them. The reality for me is that marriage has been hard, and sometimes life gives you lemons and there's no sugar to make lemonade.

That's just life.

So, what's the remedy for sour lemonade and snake bites? Well, as for sour lemonade, you just have to learn to like it sour. (Just kidding.) As for the snake bites, there are quite a few healing balms: perseverance, faith, hope, love, forgiveness, obedience, trust, steadfastness, and did I say perseverance? The only catch is that these balms cannot come from our own hands, but only from our Heavenly Father's. When He applies the soothing balms, the poison that was meant to cripple can be used make us stronger.

I am so thankful that I married a man whose first love is God through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Seriously, if we weren't standing upon The ROCK, we'd be on that other ground -- the sinking sand one.

I am thankful that my husband is committed to me no matter what and that I "will never, ever walk alone." He'll be with me on this journey (and unfortunately the ever faithful snakes will be, too) until death do us part.

My prayer is that somehow even with all of our faults, our marriage can be a testament to God's grace and glory. Sixteen years ago, I wrote a sweet quote by Christina Rossetti in my wedding album, and I'll write it again today . . .




Happy Anniversary to us.


* I just love my leaf-heart photo. I saw this pile of leaves one morning after a little desert storm, and I ran back inside to grab my phone/camera. I immediately thought of my marriage and how the storms may come and go, but our love will remain steadfast. :)

No comments:

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...