Ephesians 5:22-33:
“22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” NASB
I’m getting married this month and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s not the ceremony or the reception or even the honeymoon that has me so looking forward to this day. It’s not the gifts or the attention we’ve been getting from our friends and family (believe me, it’s NOT the attention!). It’s knowing that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with the man that God has hand picked for me. It’s knowing that when we are well we will be there to enjoy the days with one another, and when we are sick, we will be there to care for one another. It’s knowing that we will have one another to share in the good times and bask in the sunshine, as well as having each other to lean on when we face trials. It’s the assurance that I have someone to do life with. But most importantly, it’s the understanding that I’m spending the rest of my life with a man who loves the Lord more than he loves me and who will always point me back to Him.
Recently the Lord showed me again why He has placed this wonderful man in my life. As we were facing a trial and I was upset -let’s just be honest, I was crying like a little baby- he began reading scripture to me. He took the numbers from the show I was watching on Netflix and found scripture with corresponding numbers to read (Psalms 63, 19, and 3). He took the time to read, and reread these scriptures that were speaking directly to our situation.
While I didn’t immediately feel better, I realized in that moment that that was what our marriage would be about. It would be about two people who love the Lord and each other, coming together as one to face life head on. Whether it’s in the good times or the trials, God has blessed us with His love and the love of each other.
And, not only am I becoming a wife this month, but also a step-mother to two beautiful girls. My prayer is that God is preparing me to become the wife and step-mother that He wants me to be and that they need me to be. May God be glorified in all of this!
Graceful Living 