It's what happens to all of us, no matter how tough skinned we pretend to be growing up. All we really want is for someone to say that they love us, and mean it.
Well, this blog is a little something of a confession, a little something of a tribute, and a little something of a reminder to my dear young women who I talked with a little more than a month ago.
In two days I will be celebrating with my husband six years of wedded bliss. Yep, 6 years ago that man said "I do" to me, and now he's stuck with me - Midwestern accent and all!
*Side Note* - a little while back I asked him if guys were immediately attracted to women who had British, Scottish or Irish accents like women are attracted to men with those accents. He said that he didn't really know, but that it was probably a possibility. I then proceeded to ask him if my Michigan accent was a turn-on for him, and he promptly replied, "NO!!!!" I guess that is something he looked passed in order to get to the good stuff about me! OK, digression over.
So, 6 years. We met almost 8 years ago, and let me tell you, neither of us really swept the other off of their feet. In fact, I believe that my exact thoughts of the man were "He is a jerk," while he thought I was a bit of an "idiot" or "savant." All that to say, first impressions apparently do not matter. It took about 3 weeks of wearing each other out on biblical and theological discussions to realize that we actually liked each other. It took another 5 months, a trip to Israel and some meditation of Augustine's Confessions to realize that we loved each other. After that, everything just clicked.
Relationships before I met my husband were a lot of work, they were really hard. I was constantly trying to figure out if the guy really loved me, or if he was just saying that. But, I never had to guess with my husband. I just knew. I trusted him (and still trust him) completely. There is no doubting. This is love. It's an amazingly freeing experience, especially for a woman who grew up with trust issues galore. To take the words from the dear Sally Field, "He loves me, he really loves me!"
But that isn't the end of the story. The fact is that I love him too. In the beginning of my vows to him, 6 years ago, I had written that he "had awakened and aroused love in me, a love that cannot be quenched by many waters." This was love that wasn't tainted by manipulation or fear, it was love that had grown between us from something much deeper than I could ever have understood or probably will ever understand.
Our love for each other was/is based on the fact that we have a Savior that loved us more than we ever will truly know. Some may find it funny that when we first starting talking with each other that we spent most of the time arguing over theological or biblical issues. But that has always been the case for us. While, we may have moved passed the arguing stage and came to a more reflective/discussion stage, this has always been a huge part of our marriage. Some deep and some not-so-deep thoughts about our Savior, worship to Him, prayer through Him and how our marriage will glorify Him.
There is a lot that we have done together over the past 6+ years. We've travelled together to Paris and Mexico; we've led service trips together in the heart of Chicago; we've driven down and back up the East Coast; we've gone to our Nation's Capital together (he he, Jenny). There are hundreds of more trips that will happen in the future, but the greatest place we will be one day is in heaven, both glorifying our Savior and our King, casting our crowns before His throne and joining in the worship together. I cannot wait! Thank you, my love, for keeping my eyes ever fixed on our Savior. 6 years down, praying for 60 more to come!
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