Dear Elim Grace,
Let’s be honest: Do you see your marriage as a gift? Here’s a good thought and reminder from my new daughter-in-law, Hayley:
“I very recently heard someone say, ‘I feel so bad that you’re getting married so young.’ Surprisingly, I heard this a lot when we were engaged. It was normally, ’Don’t you want to live more before committing?’ or ‘Don’t you want the ‘normal’ college experience?’
Hearing these statements saddens me. It saddens me that the gift that is marriage is not always recognized by everyone. I can’t even count how many times people, sometimes even strangers, would try to talk me out of getting married. They would tell me that ‘it was a trap.’ When in reality, marriage is such a lovely gift that the Lord gives us. It is a beautiful picture of the sacrifice and love that the Lord gives us. It gives us a way to love someone, so deeply, the same way Christ loves you and me.
I prepared myself for these comments when we first got engaged. I mean, we got engaged at 19 and I had just barely turned 20 so I knew people would be confused. However, I was surprised at the regularity in which these questions were truly asked. On our honeymoon, we had countless people ask how old we were when we told them we were married. (I didn’t mind, I love talking about marriage haha).
I love being married. I love being a wife. I love being JOSHUA’S wife. I will gladly love and serve Joshua as well as I can, with God’s grace, for the rest of our lives. It is such a gift that the Lord has allowed me to take on this role at 21, and I will not ever take that for granted. I get to spend the rest of my life, continuing to grow up with my best friend, my first love and my now husband! I get the front row seat to everything God is doing in his life and I am so so grateful for that opportunity.
We’ve only been married for 2 weeks- 11 days to be exact- but I pray that I never lose sight of the gift that our marriage is. I do not regret getting married- not one bit! Marriage is the best, highly recommend.”
Let be honest: Do you (still) see your marriage as a gift?
Pastor Jonathan