Marriage is like a Garden

"The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving." 

Oliver Wendell Homes 

2014 was a challenging year for us. Probably the most challenging yet. All the changes, lack of time together, financial stress really took a toll on us and our marriage. By God's grace we remained friends and stayed faithful to one another but we definitely drew apart, started operating more independently of one another, and just plain stopped having fun together. The stresses of life had taken over. It is scary and humbling to think what sin we could have fallen into apart from God's grace. 

We took small steps forward throughout the year to press into one another. But then slacked off, got overwhelmed or exhausted. 

So in 2015 we have decided to focus primarily on reconnecting with one another, cultivating this gift from God of marriage. We realized that by our lack of purpose and intentionality we had even marred the picture of the Gospel that our marriage is to be to the world. We were not displaying oneness and unity that is ours in salvation in Christ. We were not serving generously and loving unconditionally as the Church has been loved and served as the Bride of Christ. We asked the Lord for forgiveness and are taking steps forward to grow in intimacy and oneness again. 

I praise God for being faithful to keep us even when we have been faithless. I praise Him for the changes I already see in our hearts. I praise Him as sin is revealed, that His grace will be present to help us humble ourselves, leading to repentance and growth. I praise Him for Matthew's leadership on this and his desire to do everything 110%. I praise God that He will receive glory as in our weaknessness and shortcomings, we boast in His strength!

I love the opening quote so much! I was hesitant to post a picture of us and our time in the Word/prayer together this morning because it was the first time in a looonng time that that has happened. However, I see it as a stake in the ground, we are starting fresh. It's not so much about where we are currently, but that we working on moving forward into all that God is calling us to, as man & wife. 

If marriage is like a garden we have uprooted all the brown, dead remains from last year's crop and we are tilling and fertilizing the soil for this year's! Praying for God's blessing and an abundant harvest in the weeks, months, years to come! Here's to growing old together! 

(Written Jan. 7th, 2015... Just never posted😁)