Friday, July 3, 2009

A Cord of Three Strands

July 3rd is a special day for us. We started dating, got engaged and got married all on July 3rd. This special anniversary day for us was also shared by Jeff's grandparents, his brother, and his nephew!

I think I'm officially getting old because when I looked at our wedding album I thought we looked like babies. We had no business getting married at such a young age. What did we know about the world? What did we know about living sacrificially for each other? What did we know about anything at all? The truth is that we probably didn't know much (even though we thought we did), which is probably best. If you knew up front all the obstacles that you would be facing you might never dive in - it would seem too overwhelming. We were young and in love and that's all that mattered. A love built first on friendship that grew deeper and more meaningful with time.

As we celebrate 16 years of marriage (21 years together), it is strange and wonderful to think I have lived more years with him than without him. We have had struggles and we have had great joy. God has bound our hearts together and I am thankful for the life we have made by God's grace.

Two people are better off than one,
for they can help each other succeed.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.
But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
Likewise, two people lying close together
can keep each other warm.
But how can one be warm alone?
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated,
but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.
Three are even better, for a cord of three strands
it not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

11 comments:

Amanda said...

Sweet! Happy Anniversary!

Bill and Christina said...

Happy Anniversary!!!


Christina

Chapter Two said...

Happy Anniversary! And first thing I thought when I saw the wedding photo is how much your daughter resembles her daddy. Sweet!

crispy said...

Happy Anniversary!!!


We too were young and look like children.

And I love the part about learning to live sacrificially.

Kathy Eden said...

Happy Anniversary!

Michelle said...

awwww LOVE the pic! Happy anniversary!!

Kathy Cassel said...

Congrats. I didn't think to say yesterday that both of us had grandparents married July 2, 1927 even though of course they never knew each other and his parents were married July 2. I think the grandparent thing is such a weird coincidence.

Deborah said...

This was such a sweet post :)
You have a rich life, and I'm glad that we are blogging friends.
I remember "passing the mark" when I had known my husband longer than I had not known him...God has been so good to me by giving me an awesome mate. This year we will be married 28 years.

Kristina said...

Happy Anniversary mt friend!
And you do look really young!

Annie said...

Cute picture - you really haven't changed much!

Laurel said...

We were just babes too, when we got married. We met, on Aug. 2 ... 30 years ago. Wow! And, on Aug. 21st we will celebrate 27 years of marriage.

Nope, glad we didn't know much back then. If God had told us ahead of time all that the next 30 year would bring, I think we would have run the other way. We THOUGHT that we wanted to have 6 children, but the Lord changed our minds.

mama of 13