ENJOYING NOT ENDURING MARRIAGE

4 years ago on the 18th of Sept, I married my best friend..

and it has been an amazing ride..
There have been many highs as well as lows

I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday

I danced my heart out..it was indeed a joyful celebration of love

neither of us knew what lied ahead but we were certain
that we loved ourselves enough to venture into the future.

I remember being single and saying to my girl friends that

I would enjoy my marriage rather than endure it.
I had a picture of what my marriage should look like.

The more I mature in love the more I realise that enjoying

marriage every day and through every season is no walk in the park

It takes a conscious effort,a lot of hard work and the fruit of the holy spirit.
It is so easy for the excitement and enjoyment to die,we begin to endure
each other as we do life together.
I have also come to understand very strongly that the devil
is after marriages
So I need to consciously fight for my marriage,
always on the attack and never on the defense.

The foundation of every marriage would definitely be tested

and it has nothing to do with age,or the length of the marriage

or how spiritual you are..the season or seasons of testing would definitely come...

A couple of months ago Abi said to me..when I was marrying you I did not bargain for *SMA

I looked at him and nodded...neither did I..

I didn't envisage that some where along the line I would bury a child...

I never imagined the magnitude of the challenges that we would go through
It hasn't been all rosy like in the movies

but hey..we are still here together,still strong,we still laugh at and with each other

and our love is stronger today than it was yesterday..
What could have potentially destroyed our young marriage has cemented us together..

I look around and see so many homes destroyed because of a season of financial hardship

or delay in child birth..or a disabled child you name it...

So many marriages have moved from enjoyment to enduring..biting the bullet,saying it is well when all isn't

some people stay married for all the wrong reasons...the kids...the financial security,society etc..

So many marriages that we once looked up to are ending up in divorce..

very few role models,very few staying through thick and thin...
may that not be our portion..
regardless of the failing marriages,they are many beautiful examples around us..
Many are staying true to their vows...many are enjoying their marriages.
And it is my prayer today that ours would be like so in Jesus Name ,Amen

 As we celebrate another Anniversary today I am so humbled by God's grace and mercy

I am so thankful that we are still standing in love..

I remember a few years back going through the challenging time with our daughter

I had to make a decision that regardless of what happened,I wasn't going to let it destroy

my home..I was going to find a reason to laugh in the rain and hold on to the
picture I have of what my home should be according to what God had ordained it to be..
Two chasing ten thousand,facing the world and its troubles together..

I am not there yet..but I strive daily to be a better me..
And as I allow the holyspirt to work on me and in me
I know things would get better and sweeter

I may not have been married for too long..but I have been married long enough to

celebrate how far I have come..

I celebrate our victories and I am thankful for the trials
 they have only come to make us stronger...

As I look ahead...I know I have to take advantage of all the grace and wisdom God has given me to

be  more patient and understanding...and to season my words with a lot more salt..

As I celebrate my home...

I also celebrate the many men and women who are keeping it real

and doing every thing under God to enjoy their marriages and not endure it..

May you continue to grow more in love regardless of the storms..

YOU ARE CELEBRATED.

*

SMA(Spinal Muscular Atrophy) The genetic condition we lost our daughter to.