One year, five months ago we stood hand in hand and pledged our lives to one another. We promised “in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad.” As we said those vows I never doubted that there would be hard times. But I think the beauty of love is that I have also never feared hard times because I knew we would face them together.
The biggest surprise has been the fact that it has been through these bad times I truly realize how blessed I am. Blessed that God brought this man into my life to hold me and dry my tears; to find any way to make me laugh when I need it, or just be a strong, quiet presence in the storm of life. It’s been said that without the hard times you don’t truly appreciate the good times, and boy, is that true.
It’s easy to love when things are good.
And I love our good times; the evenings cuddling on the couch watching Netflix after “arguing” about what we would have for dinner. The afternoons working on house projects, or going on mini-road trips. We have had a lot of good times, but they are moments that could be shared with anyone. Hard times, they’re different. It is in these times that the power of our vows and covenant we made truly speaks to my heart. These hard times allow us both to put our words into action, to show our willingness to hold one another up. These are the times I realize that marriage is not just another “relationship.” It is a covenant; set apart. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of great friends that have been by my side in hard times, but there’s something different when you’re facing it as one.
We’ve been in a storm. To be honest, I’m not sure if we are completely out of this storm yet. There is no doubt in my mind that whether we are out of this storm, facing another one, or in a season of peace, that there is no better man to have by my side.
I love him more today than I did on the day I became his wife. And will continue loving him more with each passing day.