Today is our 14th marriage anniversary and I am thankful…

 

31. I never have to wonder if he loves me.

32. I did not know what love from a man would be, but upon meeting 17 years ago, until today and counting, he has shown me and loves me as the Word teaches and as Christ.

33. He demonstrates his support, he provides me resources and he cheers me on to see that I become all that God has created me to be.

34. He buys me two cards for every birthday, mother’s day and any other occasion that calls; one that makes me laugh and one that makes my heart flutter.

35. He writes heartfelt love notes and faith filled prayers on my mirror for me to see when I wake.

36. He looks at me when I am convinced I have never looked worse, and he tells me he sees nothing but beauty.

37. Even though he is exhausted, he makes me a cup of hot cocoa, almost every night, made from scratch, with love and a secret I have not discovered.

39. He labors, his hands toil, his mind wonders how, his heart believes God, he scrapes the bottom of the barrel and he always brings home more than enough.

40. He never complains about how much he gives, because he would give us the world if he could.

41. When I feel like I just want to run away, overwhelmed with life, and even try, he chases me relentless until, in his arms, I am undone, as he pledges again his support, vows his love with his life, and cries to God on my behalf.

42. When others would have been crushed under the weight of the burden, he stands as a pillar.

43. When others would have run, abandoning their post because the fire so intense, he falls to his knees in abandon to his own way, seeking the One Who is the Way, refusing to run from the call, but runs to the Caller, Who promises to provide all.

44. God has sketched one with mine, his life design. 

45. We are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus, and we wait eagerly anticipating the beauty and purpose of our lives He continues to paint.

46. Although, I speak with harsh tones and disrespect at those times when anger and frustration has got the best of me, he forgives and loves as if it never happened and appeals to my heart, offering grace and becoming blind to my ugliness, choosing to see only the best of who I am.

47. He stands in the gap, between the arrows that fly and my own soul as he wrestles, not with flesh and blood, but with dark forces unseen, carrying, on my behalf, the shield of faith that extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.

48. In that place where he fights for me and fervently prays when I am weak, I have felt my strongest.

49. He rescues when I have lost my way and fallen into a dark place, whose hand that reaches cannot be distinguished between his and Jesus’ as he loves as me as Christ loves.

50. He bears and he believes and he hopes and he endures.

51. His love never gives up on me.

52. His love never runs out on me.

 

53. I am thankful, for he is my gift…

14 years and counting…