This afternoon, before our e12, we spent a few hours with these wonderful people at this local dive. We ate, talked and answered the question, "So, what can we expect in our first year of marriage?"
It was all I could do to not look at Randy and let my eyes twinkle. How can you tell a young couple who are about to enter the adventure of their lives that the next year may look so very different than they imagine? How can you prepare young ones in love for the mountains and valleys that they are sure to experience in the next several months?
Our first year was FOR SURE not what I expected! I had great dreams of being a preacher and reaching thousands for Jesus all the while supporting the man of my dreams as he pursued his own destiny in "full time ministry". Ha. What a rude awakening. We ended up living on a gravel road in a dinky house making 50 bucks a week as part time youth pastors in rural Kansas and both working extra jobs -- me at an ice cream shack and selling newspaper subscriptions and Randy in the sporting goods department at WalMart. And then I found out you had to PAY for WATER. Whatever! When our Kansas Youth Ministry ended about 2 months into it, we had no choice but to move back to where food and drink would be provided with a roof over our head -- the upstairs of Randy's parents farmhouse, where we spent the next 7 glorious weeks before we landed a position at Eckert Youth Home, where we all of a sudden were blessed with 8 teenage foster sons, many of which were only a few months younger than me! Nope, not a year I expected.
All the while, I wouldn't trade any of it. It drew us closer, developed character and was all a part of God's brilliant design for our lives.
So what would you say to these guys and these guys who are most certainly headed into the journey of a lifetime??
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The sermon on the mount is about to become a daily living reality!
Remember that in all situations, "Mercy Has No Expiration Date". This means, you give up your right to be right and extend mercy over and over and over again!
That being said, laugh much, love much, and talk much! Become best friends! It's an awesome journey!
This past weekend, we celebrated my parent's 60th wedding anniversary. During dinner, someone asked my mother what advice she would give to young couples today. Her immediate response was, "Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!" It was a given that she would also advise them to keep their eyes on the Lord at ALL times.
In addition to that advice,I would add - extend forgiveness, grace and mercy as often as required. You may feel that you are doing this on an annoyingly frequent basis, but that's what our Lord does for us, isn't it? During times like that, ponder the things that caused you to fall in love with each other in the first place.
Marriage is definitely a journey of twists and turns. If you continue to follow the guidelines in the greatest instruction book of all, you will do well.
May God bestow his richest blessings on these young couples!
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