"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
-St. Augustine
Seven years ago, I stepped into a new life. I remember slipping on my white wedding dress (which actually was a prom dress...hehe:), stepping into my white heels and gently placing my veil to fit perfectly over my freshly created up-do. I remember my nervousness at the thought of walking down an aisle, so many people around and all attention on me. I've never been one to volunteer to be the center of the party, but in a wedding you have no choice. All eyes on you! I don't remember much about how the ceremony went, what food we had at the reception or even who all attended. I kept my focus on Nathan. Whether walking down the aisle, dancing our first dance, meeting our guests, my attention and focus was on him. His eyes. His beaming smile. His gentle voice. I loved everything about him. I was head over heels and I'm sure everyone around us knew it. That was our wedding day. Wedding days are blissful, but then life begins...
Our first year was interesting. Getting to know each other, learning our sleep patterns (or lack thereof), making our way through little arguments here and there were all stepping stones for our marriage. In the first few years we faced some battles. We experienced a miscarriage, job changes, moving houses a few times and just making it through the twists and turns of life. We got lazy in our relationship with each other and with God. We started to go through the twists and turns separately instead of hand and hand. For the first time in our relationship, doubt crept in. We didn't really "feel" the lovey-dovey feeling anymore. There wasn't that ambience of passion that used to pierce the air twenty four hours a day. We made the mistake of thinking marriage was easy and should come natural. Boy were we wrong.
We learned the biggest lesson of our lives: marriage is work. You do nothing, your marriage will suffer. Love is a choice, not always a feeling. It's the same in your relationship with God. It's a choice. Yes, there will be days and moments when you feel the sappy love of God, but there will be many more days you will have to know by faith He is there. By the grace of God, we've made it through things that would've normally torn marriages apart. God renewed a love for each other like we've never known. We celebrated seven years of marriage yesterday. They were by no means all blissful years, but we've worked them out and are now looking forward to some of the best years to come!
John says in Revelation 19:7-8, “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear." We, as we live on this earth, are getting ready to become His Bride. Are you dressed in white? Have you allowed Jesus to cleanse you of your sin?
Jesus has gone away to prepare a place for us and He will be back. I believe, based on the many unfolding events right now, it will be soon!
Right now, we are walking down the aisle of life. All eyes on us! If we keep our focus on our Groom, we will stay afloat the rough waters of life. It's a long aisle and one we've been pacing down since we were born, but there is a time coming when we will meet the Groom at the altar. We prepare a year or so in advance for our earthly wedding. How long have you spent preparing to meet the Eternal Bridegroom?
Wedding Days lyrics by Enter The Worship Circle
God Loves his family, like a man loves his wife
And the women she is glitter gold, And she dresses all in white
I've seen the wind run round her,
And threaten her with storm
I've seen the mountain shake to crush her
And the oceans raise a hand
But if God is near, She will not fall, And bruise her tender head
If God is near He will keep her from breaking, careful in His hands
If God is near the girl she will dance, and spin the heavens round
Wedding days are always remembered, When true love has been found
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