My
David, At Fourteen Years of Marriage
You have…
Taught
me….
-the meaning of the word 'discipline'
-how to read the word more intently
-what sacrificial love looks like
-how to parent with the end in mind
-how to organize my life for maximum efficiency
and effectiveness
-that relationship matters more than my sense
of 'right'
-about the science of human nutrition
-how to work out efficiently and injury free
(enter the kettle bell)
-how to love in midst of hurt
-that my black and white vision of life ends in judgments that hurt
-how to speak calmly when my heart wants to
yell
-self-forgetfulness
-how to die
-to die is to really live
Sought
me…..
-when I manipulate with emotion
-when I yell (and cuss sometimes)
-when I am closed and cold
-when I have wrecked it all
-when my heart is aching
-when the world overwhelms
-in tender romantic love
-in patient love
-as a best friend forever
-as always wanting more and not settling for
less in our marriage
-with physical, tender touch as a way to
soften and remind me
you are seeking me still
Washed
me…..
-with encouraging words
-with difficult words that I needed to hear
-with God's word for me
-with time and rest and laughter
-with your utter sacrifice
-with forgiveness and grace
-with unrelenting love
-with reminders that you would choose me a
thousand times again
-with reminders that life is better in our
story together
-with the words: 'I Love doing life with you'
Protected
me….
-from the worst parts of myself
-from tearing down people I love the most
-from the drunk man at the restaurant
-from the home invader in tengchong
-from laziness and waywardness in my Christ
walk
-from gossip, jealousy, and envy
-from pride and selfishness
-and our marriage from any impurity
Bettered
me…..
-by communicating kindly and patiently and
helping me do the same
-by not letting me settle for the status quo
in my walk with Jesus
-by helping see the gray and not mete out my
own justice
-by gentling me with our kids
-by helping me be intentional in every area
of our life
-by reigning in my pride-induced rants
-by giving all of you to me and taking 'all
of me' (including my ‘smart mouth’)
-by leading well and helping me follow :).
Loved
me…
-by always choosing me
-by being trustworthy in every aspect of who
you are
-by being my very. Best. Friend.
-by reminding me why I was made, for you and
for HIM
-by taking all of me and knowing redemption
is for me in EVERY part
-by trusting in FUTURE GRACE for me
The best part of our marriage is that it is
YOU and ME forever,
but it wasn't made entirely for us.
True, we are partakers of all the gifts of
marriage,
but the YOU and ME forever is not mainly FOR
us, but FOR Him.
His glory in HIS picture of Christ and the
Church.
A mystery quite mysterious, yet not so
evasive, it is real.
We can live it, go deeper in it, forage his
meaning even more
to KNOW HIM more by living in communion with
each other
and most of all with our creator.
I know you will keep teaching, seeking,
washing, protecting,
bettering, and loving me in these same ways
and in new ways too
as Christ draws you even closer to him. I am confident of this,
because I trust in HIS FUTURE GRACE for you
too.
The best is yet to come.
Thanks for choosing me, David. I still choose
you a million times over.
