About this time 51 years ago, I was planning a wedding.  I had no clue what marriage would be like for me…just that I believed God had brought Frank and me together to serve Him.  We had Psalm 34: 1-10 read during our ceremony.  Verse 3 was especially ours: “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”  That was our goal.  A few weeks into our marriage, I realized that this wasn’t going to be easy.  We were both headstrong, believing our way was the best way, and learning how NOT to communicate!  However, we were seeking God’s word and will.

It took several years for me to really understand the way God works through marriage when it is done His way.  Each desiring to serve the other and continuing to love even in those unlovely moments we all have.  Once I surrendered my will to God and let Him take over, our marriage was better than I had ever dreamed and Frank really did become my soul mate and my best friend.  The thing that amazes me now, looking back, is how God used us to honor Him and lift up Jesus even in the midst of our struggles.  What an amazing God we serve!  What love and patience He has to deal with us in our stubbornness.  I have come to the conclusion that a primary purpose for marriage is to teach us to love one another.  To love in the context of giving, serving, and going beyond the second mile.  When we let Him, Jesus takes over and gives us such joy and peace by filling those empty holes in our hearts so that we can pour love into another.  How wonderful He is!  Why would you not give Him your life?  He gives so much more to us!