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Thankful Thursday: "Love and Marriage"

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Faith's Firm Foundation: Thankful Thursday: "Love and Marriage"

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Thankful Thursday: "Love and Marriage"





Today--again--I'm thankful for a solid marriage. I would *like* to take credit for having a marriage to be thankful for, but instead I give all the glory, with amazement and gratitude, to my wonderful Lord and God and thank Him for leading me ("No, not that way...no, no, *this* way...yes, that's it") with infinite patience to be where we are. Pride says to Self, "You're being hard on yourself; you did much to build, little to tear down," and sends my mind on a search of the files of my memory, to find proof. I am humbled that there has to be a search, and the proof isn't laying out in the open everywhere for all the world to see.  I did some building--I could have done much, much more.

I'm grateful, also, to my "straight arrow", consistent husband.  Many of the character qualities which my hubby possesses make it possible for us to have a strong marriage, and put me in a "recommendable" position.  We are polar opposites.  We had a pastor when we were dating, who, as a matter of course, took engaged couples through "premarital counseling" including a battery of personality tests. Everywhere the line on the graph went up for me, my fiance's went down. Every time his line went up, mine went to the same degree, down!  We were different as night and day!  One week before our wedding, our pastor gave us this "encouraging word": "You can still call it off."  The golden wisdom he left us with, truly gold, was when he dismally predicted, "The only way you're going to make it is with Jesus."  Friends, I'm so thankful I was told that's the only way we could make it!  For that's the only way *any* couple can make it! And it's the only way I would want to make it!  Praise God, it wasn't easy, but with Jesus we've "made it" this far!

When I was single, I was looking for a man with some of his qualities, but I didn't have the good sense or wisdom to be looking for other qualities the Lord lavishly threw in, which I had no idea were important! God is so good!  I "happened" to marry a man who came from a very Godly heritage: parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents who loved the Lord.  I had no idea how important that would be, when I was 20!  He is a man who is steady (I wasn't even aware I needed that), extremely hard-working, reliable, (kind of took those things for granted) and I can *count* on him.  I know that, though I am not easy to live with, and have my ups and downs, he's not going anywhere--he's totally committed to "til death do us part" and that is a very secure and wonderful "knowing" to have.  So, today, these are just some of the things that make me thankful for my marriage.  It's not "fireworks" after 32 years of marriage, but I'll take "rock solid" any day.

(Look for my new weekly series on "Love and Marriage" beginning this Monday, February 1, with topics including A Comparison of
Dating and Courtship, Interviews, What to Look for in Mr./Miss "Right", A Look at "Love" from 1 Corinthians 13,
Safeguarding your Marriage, Hazards to watch out for
in each phase of marriage, Forgiveness, and more.)
Oh, and come back and grab the button above!


It's Thankful Thursday, and thanks go again, also, to Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage for hosting TT this month! Go to her site to read other thankful posts and participate.

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8 Comments:

Blogger Deborah Ann said...

Wendy, what a beautiful tribute to your husband, and to God! I plan on honoring my husband like this sometime in the near future.

Thanks for blessing me with that hilarious story! You really made my day...{{Wendy}}

January 28, 2010 at 1:11 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

May God continue to bless your marriage.

January 28, 2010 at 8:30 PM  
Blogger Karen said...

What a wonderful post! It is truly a blessing to have a godly husband. I know, because I have one. We are truly blessed indeed!

Hope you're having a great week!
Karen

January 28, 2010 at 8:42 PM  
Anonymous sharon said...

wow Wendy! I had a good chuckle there while I was reading what your Pastor said to you; he didn't get it did he? It is only with Jesus anyone can make it through a marriage - a fulfilling marriage. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you!

January 28, 2010 at 10:02 PM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Thanks, Deb! I look forward to reading your tribute to your husband! As for the hilarious story, my mother kept everyone in stitches during a certain time of her life (come to think of it, I think she was *my* age:) with stories of her unbelievable "foibles" and "I can't believe I did that"s--and she could tell a story! Glad I made your day!
Wendy

January 29, 2010 at 12:00 PM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Denise, thank you. I know that I have been blessed, and I know that marriage is dying to self. Satan is constantly encouraging my flesh to rise up and focus on "me" and "my rights"--I pray that I will, by God's grace die to self daily and surrender my rights to Him. He is the ultimate example of humility and service, as He washed the disciples' feet.
Blessings, and thanks for being a blessing,
Wendy

January 29, 2010 at 12:07 PM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Karen, We are truly both blessed--richly!
I'm recovering from a "bug" (finally), so am excited about that! Hope you have a great week, too--Thanks!
Blessings,
Wendy

January 29, 2010 at 12:10 PM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Hi Sharon! Welcome! So glad you came over, and thanks for your comment! Well, it's true, in one sense, our pastor didn't "get it," but, in another sense, I think he was encouraging us to *lean* on Jesus Christ, look to Him for our answers and help, and kind of, "climb in" and LIVE in the Word of God and prayer, 'cuz we were headed for rough times ahead. I've been thinking about posting more about our story of our early days of marriage (most marriages wouldn't have survived) and some of the things I learned from that experience that might help other young marrieds. One of those things was that I was no longer an "individual" person! The two shall become *one* God says. We both had to die so that Christ could live Himself out in and through our marriage. When we spend our time calculating whether "I've given more than you have" the result is nothing but strife and resentment. I had to learn to look up over the shoulder of my husband to see Christ, and then all the "giving in" and "giving up" and "serving" and "submitting" was to Christ, though acted out to my husband. The key is the attitude--do I do it willingly and lovingly, or do I do it resentfully? That's the part I control. But God gives the power to do it.
Blessings,
Wendy

January 29, 2010 at 12:44 PM  

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Hi and welcome to my blog! Come on in and make yourself at home! I love connecting. Comments are the way to do that! Tell me about yourself. Please connect back, ok?
Blessings,
Wendy
If you would rather, my email address is faithsfirmfoundation(at)embarqmail(dot)com

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