The LORD will work out His plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.Don’t abandon me, for you made me.-Psalm 138:8
Celebrating 31 years of marriage today to Patrick!
Anniversaries & birthdays have become, for me, celebrations of God’s faithfulness and times to pause and consider the “watermark” moments of my life…Those moments that leave imprints on your heart and soul, that change you in ways that might be seen outwardly, but might only be evident inwardly, just between God and me.
Since the summer of 2018, our wedding anniversary takes me back to two watermark days that summer.
Neither day is “That Saturday in July,” (read here ) (view here) but the two days that became watermark days in my life because of That Saturday in July— 1) the day we closed on our new house and 2) the day we dropped Ryan off at Penn State for his senior year.
I suspect those will forever future forward be days that I mark in celebration each wedding anniversary we’re blessed to mark, as those were two days I wondered about, I prayed about, I asked God about repeatedly during that waiting week in July…Would I be closing on that house by myself? Would I be driving Ryan to Penn State by myself this school year? Taking time to reflect on the watermark times leaves room for us to remember God’s faithfulness.
God is faithful, always, no matter the outcome. He has been faithful throughout our marriage in too many ways to count….The wedding day is simply the kick off day that propels you through the days that speed up ever so quickly as the days & years fly by…Memories filled with celebrations, challenges, hurdles, milestones, easy times, hard times, in between times….arguments, times to forgive, times of joy, scary times, babies born, moves, vacations, trips, raising babies….I could go on….but somehow, inexplicably, the days go by so very, fast, and among those days are memories and watermarks.
So we celebrate today, 31 years of marriage-God’s faithfulness evident throughout, even before we knew the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior & Lord….I remember & celebrate these watermark moments—-I can look back and see He was there all of the time. Coming to know Jesus, and all He has done, and all He is doing….this is the greatest blessing we both are able to celebrate today. A groom, a bride—joined together, not having a clue what goes before them, but gratefully, knowing now, that God went & still goes before them, no matter the outcome.
Thank You, Lord, for the watermark times.
Thank You, Lord, for 31 years, for as I know many who read this know, tomorrow isn’t promised.
Thank You, Lord, for your faithfulness. Thank you for the hope we have through Jesus Christ, “the hope,” to quote my pastor, “that will never disappoint.”
I love you, Patrick. Looking forward to the tomorrows and adventures God blesses us with.
P.S. I recently discovered this sweet song by The Afters, and thought it was fitting- “When You’re With Me.” You can listen on Spotify here if you’d like: https://open.spotify.com/track/0KMeuFMMEZ0vyTXnT8LAg0?si=zoWHNtk3RU6kUU5a12xwnQ
Go? 