Well, it's been four wonderful years for me and Grant. This time four years ago, I was at my bridesmaids luncheon and he was playing golf with his groomsmen at the country club.
Then we were getting ready - me with my mama and his in the room I grew up in; he with his daddy and his closest friends near the church that raised me.
At the church we kept the tradition of not seeing each other before the covenant ceremony. That time with my girls was really special. I'll never forget it.
Then the quiet moments of prayer and preparation right before my daddy walked me down the aisle brought a few sweet tears that slipped slowly over my cheek in joy and anticipation and excitement. The song that a friend sang in our wedding has been playing over and over in my head lately:
I pray You'll be our eyes
and watch us where we go
and help us to be wise
in times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer
when we lose our way.
Lead us to the place.
Guide us with Your grace
to a place where we'll be safe.
God has been so faithful in our lives and in our marriage. This year has been so different than the others. We have been in transition, moving to London, traveling around, and now considering the move home. There has perhaps never been a time in our marriage with less uncertainty: where will we live, what will our careers look like, will we buy a house or rent an apartment, which city will we choose, what church will we go to, how close will we be to friends and family, when will we see our new friends again after we leave London? Transition has been the name of the game for us this year, and there are still many questions unanswered.
We have lived in 310 square feet (a far cry from our 1500 sq ft apartment in Atlanta) with leaks, cracks, mildew and other inconveniences, without a dishwasher and without a microwave or washing machine that work regularly. We have learned to make do with less - less time together, less space, less spending money, less sleep, less time with friends, and much less time with family.
And yet, God is faithful!
He has increased so much. He has given us the protection, provision, and security we need to be grounded in the here and now - even if the here and now is transient. He knows the answers to all our questions - and many more! He loves us and will not allow anything to happen to us that will not make us better as He uses these life experiences to mold us into His image.
I have learned so much this year about God's glory; about how it's His whether I like it or not, whether I give it or not. I can either be a willing and grateful participant or I can miss out. Thankfully, God has taken us aside for this year on-the-go and has shown us how to glorify Him in all circumstances, to be thankful in all circumstances, and to praise Him in all circumstances.
Yes, we're at a time in our lives and our marriage when praising God is easy, but my hope and prayer is that He's revealed enough to us throughout this unique year in our lives so that we can remember to give thanks in all things in all seasons. That's the gift God has given us this anniversary.
The Bible is full of songs and so is my heart so here are a few psalms to end today on:
Then we were getting ready - me with my mama and his in the room I grew up in; he with his daddy and his closest friends near the church that raised me.
At the church we kept the tradition of not seeing each other before the covenant ceremony. That time with my girls was really special. I'll never forget it.
Then the quiet moments of prayer and preparation right before my daddy walked me down the aisle brought a few sweet tears that slipped slowly over my cheek in joy and anticipation and excitement. The song that a friend sang in our wedding has been playing over and over in my head lately:
I pray You'll be our eyes
and watch us where we go
and help us to be wise
in times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer
when we lose our way.
Lead us to the place.
Guide us with Your grace
to a place where we'll be safe.
God has been so faithful in our lives and in our marriage. This year has been so different than the others. We have been in transition, moving to London, traveling around, and now considering the move home. There has perhaps never been a time in our marriage with less uncertainty: where will we live, what will our careers look like, will we buy a house or rent an apartment, which city will we choose, what church will we go to, how close will we be to friends and family, when will we see our new friends again after we leave London? Transition has been the name of the game for us this year, and there are still many questions unanswered.
We have lived in 310 square feet (a far cry from our 1500 sq ft apartment in Atlanta) with leaks, cracks, mildew and other inconveniences, without a dishwasher and without a microwave or washing machine that work regularly. We have learned to make do with less - less time together, less space, less spending money, less sleep, less time with friends, and much less time with family.
And yet, God is faithful!
He has increased so much. He has given us the protection, provision, and security we need to be grounded in the here and now - even if the here and now is transient. He knows the answers to all our questions - and many more! He loves us and will not allow anything to happen to us that will not make us better as He uses these life experiences to mold us into His image.
I have learned so much this year about God's glory; about how it's His whether I like it or not, whether I give it or not. I can either be a willing and grateful participant or I can miss out. Thankfully, God has taken us aside for this year on-the-go and has shown us how to glorify Him in all circumstances, to be thankful in all circumstances, and to praise Him in all circumstances.
Yes, we're at a time in our lives and our marriage when praising God is easy, but my hope and prayer is that He's revealed enough to us throughout this unique year in our lives so that we can remember to give thanks in all things in all seasons. That's the gift God has given us this anniversary.
The Bible is full of songs and so is my heart so here are a few psalms to end today on:
"The LORD has done great things for us
and we are filled with joy!"
Psalm 126:3
"This is the day that the LORD has made,
let's rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
His love endures forever."
Psalm 118:29
"They LORD has done this and it is wonderful to see."
Psalm 118:23
"You crown the year with with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow
with abundance."
Psalm 65:11
Amen.
1 comment:
beautiful! grateful!
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