Yesterday, Jimmy and I talked about our first year of marriage and I was overcome by thankfulness. As I thought about writing this thank you post, I started with thinking I’d write an open thank you letter to my husband but I changed my mind.Don’t get me wrong, I have a LOT of thankful words to say to my husband but today, I am struck by a different thank you that I must write. So, here it goes.
Dear God,
As I sit here on the one year anniversary of my wedding day, there is so much thankfulness that comes to mind. I could thank my incredible husband for an unbelievable year and for loving me in a way that I don’t deserve. I could thank our families for helping make April 11, 2015 one of the most treasured days of my life. I could thank the countless numbers of people who pitched in to pull off an epic celebration without ever asking for a thing. I could thank so many…yet today, it is Your goodness that leaves me in awe.
I can still remember the days and years that I prayed for You to provide a man with whom I could share my life. Not just any man but someone who loved You more than He could ever love me. A man who had his eyes set on eternity and not on this world. There were some days that I doubted and struggled to see Your goodness. Yet, in the midst of that, You were always faithful and whispered words of truth to me. Then, in Your incredible kindness and in Your perfect timing, You brought me a man who exceeded my expectations and blew me away.
On this day, one year ago, I can remember standing behind the doors with my father, just waiting to walk down the aisle, and he said, ‘Mary, the Lord gives good gifts to the faithful. He has outdone Himself today.’ I began to weep (of course) and seconds later the doors opened and I started to walk to my groom. We stood underneath a big beautiful tree, surrounded by friends and began to vow our lives. At that moment, the sun poked out from the clouds and shone directly on us. It was as if You wanted to make a clear reminder that You are perfectly good, that Your ways are beyond our ways, and that Your steadfast love endures forever. I’ll never forget that moment.
In the last year, that goodness has only been made more evident. This first year of marriage has been one of the sweetest years of my life as I have seen You more clearly through the love of my husband and fallen more in love with the gospel. I am learning that marriage is an incredible gift but at its very core, it is meant to point us back to You. In our imperfect marriage, we are given a shadow of an understanding of what we have in You…unconditional love and the anticipation of the ultimate wedding celebration that is yet to come.
Thank You, Lord, for Your steadfast love in my life. In Your goodness, You gave me a man whom I respect more than anyone else. He loves You more than he loves me which makes him able to love me even better. He is wise, kind, passionate, diligent, patient, humble, fun and so much more. Best of all, he makes the best teammate as we seek to live on mission for You. You outdid Yourself.
So, today, as we celebrate one year of marriage, it is You that I desire to thank for Your steadfast love in my life continues to endure.
If you want to check out our wedding video to see our special day, click here! To see more of our amazing wedding photographs by Constance Higley Photography, click here.
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