On July 11, Chris and I celebrated one year of marriage! It is hard to believe that a year has gone by . . . but, then again, so much has happened in our lives that it makes sense. Our celebration took place at another wedding in Colorado Springs. We made a weekend trip to our old "home" and spent some great quality time with the friends we had to say goodbye to 8 long months ago. And yes, now friends of ours share the same wedding anniversary!
We had a wonderful time catching up with friends and even made some time for a little date for just the two of us. We celebrated it again on Saturday, July 17--Chris bought me a dozen red roses, took me out to eat and then we went dancing! It was a great date!
I've been thinking a lot about marriage lately. I've probably read more than my fair share of marriage books this year and am going through another one now. What I find interesting is that a majority of what these books say about a woman's role in marriage is very different than how society and even other women seem to treat marriage. Marriage is given to us by God; it's precious, it's emotional, and it's fragile, but it also has the capability to be the strongest human relationship we can witness on earth. It's NOT two people making an agreement to stay with each other for as long as it works . . . it's SO MUCH MORE!
Marriage was meant to be an example of God's love for us and Christ's relationship with the church! Paul writes about that in Ephesians 5--the church is the bride and Christ is the groom. It's a beautiful image of headship and submission, and of respect and love. It's God's design for two working as one.
Another passage in scripture says "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another." Doesn't that sound like a fun process! Marriage, too, is a process of becoming holy or "like Christ." Our mistakes, our sins, and our faults are plainly seen by our spouses (and vise versa). Learning how to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness and also to offer forgiveness are, in my mind, the hardest things in marriage. But, it's also through this that we become closer and experience the love Christ has for us.
Hearing the vows at the wedding we attended last weekend were a great reminder of what Chris and I entered into a year ago. I made a vow to encourage, respect, love and cherish this one man for as long as I am alive! We've made it through one year . . . it definitely deserves to be celebrated . . . but its just one year out of who knows how many! As one good friend said, "Congrats! One year down, 70+ more to go!" We're not even close to being done! (And yes, that is a good thing!)
On July 11, Chris and I celebrated one year of marriage! It is hard to believe that a year has gone by . . . but, then again, so much has happened in our lives that it makes sense. Our celebration took place at another wedding in Colorado Springs. We made a weekend trip to our old "home" and spent some great quality time with the friends we had to say goodbye to 8 long months ago. And yes, now friends of ours share the same wedding anniversary!
We had a wonderful time catching up with friends and even made some time for a little date for just the two of us. We celebrated it again on Saturday, July 17--Chris bought me a dozen red roses, took me out to eat and then we went dancing! It was a great date!
I've been thinking a lot about marriage lately. I've probably read more than my fair share of marriage books this year and am going through another one now. What I find interesting is that a majority of what these books say about a woman's role in marriage is very different than how society and even other women seem to treat marriage. Marriage is given to us by God; it's precious, it's emotional, and it's fragile, but it also has the capability to be the strongest human relationship we can witness on earth. It's NOT two people making an agreement to stay with each other for as long as it works . . . it's SO MUCH MORE!
Marriage was meant to be an example of God's love for us and Christ's relationship with the church! Paul writes about that in Ephesians 5--the church is the bride and Christ is the groom. It's a beautiful image of headship and submission, and of respect and love. It's God's design for two working as one.
Another passage in scripture says "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another." Doesn't that sound like a fun process! Marriage, too, is a process of becoming holy or "like Christ." Our mistakes, our sins, and our faults are plainly seen by our spouses (and vise versa). Learning how to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness and also to offer forgiveness are, in my mind, the hardest things in marriage. But, it's also through this that we become closer and experience the love Christ has for us.
Hearing the vows at the wedding we attended last weekend were a great reminder of what Chris and I entered into a year ago. I made a vow to encourage, respect, love and cherish this one man for as long as I am alive! We've made it through one year . . . it definitely deserves to be celebrated . . . but its just one year out of who knows how many! As one good friend said, "Congrats! One year down, 70+ more to go!" We're not even close to being done! (And yes, that is a good thing!)
