Friday, March 21, 2014

5 years.



we are celebrating five years of marriage today. a significant milestone. half a decade of growing, giving, receiving, learning, changing...of loving.

we began as two students, living in two different cities, planning a wedding in three weeks with the overwhelming grace and help from so many friends and family, and 16 weeks pregnant with our first son.

we had so little to speak of. nothing really, other than a fierce love. an unbreakable commitment to remain true to the promises we were making. and a family in the making.

in some ways we don't have much more than that today. we don't have any trips of a lifetime to look back on. we didn't have the chance to establish ourselves financially before having kids. we haven't built a house, or remodeled one, or even owned one. we weren't able to do all those "things" that most couples want to do before starting a family. but in just about every other way, we have absolutely everything. 

we have three amazing boys and a little girl on the way...who have shown us more about God than any other relationship/experience. we have two graduate degrees that taught us so much about sacrifice and going after your dreams even when it seems impossible. we have five years of learning how to live simply, how to do without, how to stretch every penny. we have five moves under our belt that have instilled in us that a place does not make your "home," but it is the people that reside within.
we have been incredibly humbled by this thing called life and received more grace, generosity, and love from others than we ever imagined possible.

our love runs so much deeper than it did on that first day of marriage. we would choose every single day to do it all over again, even though love's ways are hard and steep. even though it means being refined every single day into a deepened state of selflessness. even though love is concerned with our growth and pruning and sanctification above all else. love is our picture of God loving humanity.

here is to a lifetime more of experiencing that kind of love.

this is one of my favorite quotes on love:

“When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth......

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself."

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully.” 
― Kahlil GibranLe Prophète

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