Happy 17th Anniversary, Jose!

  Today marks 17 years that we have been married. It’s insane to consider that in only 3 years we will have been married 20. I wish I could say it’s been perfect and without trial, sorrow or pain, but we both know that would be deceptive. No, our marriage has been richly colored with the strokes of compromise, sacrifice, brokenness, hurt, disappointment, anger, shattered trust, and unfulfilled dreams. I truly believe, however, the canvas of our marriage would be a colorless and lifeless masterpiece without all those things. When we first married, we naively rushed in, thinking marriage would make us happier than we had ever been, more fulfilled and satisfied than we could have hoped. In truth marriage has been harder, more challenging, at times with intense periods of suffering and silence as well as multiple, drawn out separations. To some our marriage would seem pointless, not worth pursuing or even hopeless if they truly knew our hardest and darkest moments. But Jose, you and I know the honest truth. It is only because of all that we have been through, all that we have endured, all that we have had to forgive each other of and the slow and painful process of rebuilding trust, re-establishing reconciliation and restoration, that our marriage is what it is today, 17 hard earned years later. Our marriage is not a fairy tale. We haven’t always been able to find our happy ending at the end of a long, silent and hurtful day. We have hurt each other in ways that no one else can. We have said and done things that we can never take back.  How is it then that we can even be here on this day celebrating our 17^th anniversary, another one separated by miles and oceans too? We both know the answer. There can only ever be one answer for a marriage like ours to not only survive all of the storms we have weathered, but thrive in them. The answer is Jesus. How sweet and good it has been to watch Him work miracles in our marriage day after day and year after year. He alone has been our source of hope, joy and peace both as individuals when we were not functioning as one and as a couple. His grace continues to infuse us with everything we need to forgive time and time again, step towards one another after hurt time and time again, reach out and be reconciled over and over, and pull each other up and out of our despair. I think I can honestly say to you, Jose, without the blood of Jesus Christ in our marriage, we would no longer BE married. My deepest hope and desire for our marriage is that this amazing, rich and colorful masterpiece that God has created will be a source of light, hope and encouragement to other marriages for the rest of our lives. May we continue to partner together with a Kingdom mentality. That means both of us walking side by side with the knowledge that this life was given to us for the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. May we do that well Jose and may we BOTH hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I love you baby. Through thick and thin, to hell and back, our marriage has endured and only by the grace of God will it continue to do so. Here’s to the next 50 years together, Jose!