Today is the 14th anniversary of the day Rick and I said, “I do.”  My wonderfully romantic husband did GOOD this year. Not only did I wake up this morning to find a card by the coffee pot, a card with very sweet sentiments written inside, but he also showed up at the library on his way home from work to personally deliver a dozen roses.

Mind you, that was 20 miles out of his way. What a guy. 🙂  And I must admit that I didn’t even remember to get him a card. (It’s ok – this evens out our 10th anniversary when I got him a card and a gift and he forgot about the anniversary altogether.)

I am so thankful for Rick and all that we’ve shared. And I’m thankful for Jesus, who made it possible for our marriage to last. Not all 14 years have been a candlelit dinner with soft music in the background. In fact, there were several times when I’d made up my mind to leave him. Not divorce him – the Bible is very clear about divorce – just leave him until we could straighten some things out. But each time Jesus reminded me that He had loved me when I was unloveable.  He also reminded me that I said, “In good times and in bad… till death do us part.” Did I really mean those words, or were they simply lip service?

Things are so screwed up in our society these days. It used to be that weddings could be planned in a matter of weeks – a pretty dress, a nice day, vows outside with your family and closest friends – and people didn’t take out second mortgages on the house to pay for them. And those marriages usually lasted. Now we spend tens of thousands of dollars on the event, all for a marriage that has a 50% change of making it. It’s kind of depressing, really.

I was married once before. I couldn’t make it last. Praise Jesus that with His help, I will this time around. And weathering the ups and downs has created a rich and deep love between us that I would have never experienced if I’d given up when I wanted to.

Father, help me to be the best wife for Rick that I can be.

Happy Anniversary, honey!