Reminded..

Sometimes I forget. Well I forget a lot :) But I very often get so use to my surroundings that I take everything for granted. And then God see's this and sends something my way that really makes me truly see. That happened this week. Kyle and I have always had a huge heart for marriage. For what God call's it to be and what it can be if done IN HIM. Well this week circumstances made it painfully obvious the pain that is around us all, right in the middle of the church pews we sit in. Truley broke my heart and had me on my knees. But also made me hug my sweet husband a little tighter. Made me watch how I spoke to him a little closer. I am thankful. I am thankful we are both not perfect but in our reaching toward God together, it has made us very strong. Marriage is such a special creation from the Lord. Something he knew would bring us great joy, but also teach us a ton about obedience.

Funny that isn't something you hear much in marriage ceremonies. You hear a lot of happiness. And don't get me wrong God want's our marriages to glorify Him., and in that there is a lot of joy to be had. But the thing that doesn't get mentioned much is that the marriage bond is just as much or more about submission on both parts AND obeying God. That it is not all about you, at all really. Sometimes we are both on the same track, both keeping our eyes to the heavens therefore both loving and respecting each other as we should, and we are happy. Sometimes we are not and then we have a chance to show grace like no one else can. It's funny that when there are issues you find the other spouse saying "they don't....." fill in the blank because there is a list a mile long when talking about something wrong your spouse does. Just because we are human, living in a sinful world there is bound to be TONS of things your spouse does wrong. But we are called to love them, forgive them, respect them not because that is what we wont to do but because that is what God calls us to do. When we got married we listened to this sermon on cd that a friend let us listen too, and I remember something that I heard that stuck with me all this time. He said something to the effect of when you get married you should picture yourself getting bricked up in a room on all four sides. You can love huge in there or you can drag down fight in there but you are in there to stay. A aha! moment for sure. What a great illustration of what marriage means. It doesn't mean you are in a room with a small window just in case it gets too hot. There is no locked door with a key just in case you need to escape.

I love Kyle with all I am. I love him more than I did almost 7 years ago when I married Him. He is a wonderful father and an amazing husband. God has transformed him into such an amazing man, and that is my prayer for all out there that do not know what marriage can be like in the arms of Jesus. I love Kyle that much but I love God more. And that , thus far, is the reason we are a success. Not because we are that good, or bad things have not come our way. But because my strength comes from the Lord. My love comes from Him even when I am all tapped out. And the biggest, my forgiveness comes from Him when I have just plain messed up. I find it much easier to ask for forgiveness from Kyle after I already know I have repented and been forgivin by God. And same the other way around. Much easier to forgive Him for his shortcoming since I know I have been forgiven when I am less than worthy.

I am praying right now for healing in the many marriages that are hurting right now. I am praying that we as a Christian family, stand up for what marriage is really about not what our sinful, selfish society has turned it into. And I pray that the ones of us that God has imparted wisdom too have to drive to come up alongside others and live life with them, that is really what we are called to do. Live in community and help build each other up in Christ!