Thankful Thursdays

Pop on over to Laurie's blog Taking a Stand and join us in Thankful Thursdays!

It is often hard for me to name one thing that I am thankful for. It takes some though and I often feel guilty for the things I leave out lol

Today I am going to have to go with Marriage. I am thankful for my Marriage!

After attending the A Woman Inspired Marriage Conference this week and hearing the testimonies of the speakers and the stories of fellow participants I am more sure than ever that Marriage is one of the absolute GREATEST gifts from God!

I cannot for a moment imagine myself without my husband. My marriage is a safe haven for me, a place where I can always be myself no matter how ugly being me might be on any given day :-) My marriage has completely changed my life. I know it changes everyones life but have you ever thought about it?

The Bible speaks alot about marriage and it's importance, it's permanence and it's value. The Word speaks of husbands and of wives in a way that shows us how important we are. Not important in a prideful way but in a needed way. We need each other. We grow together, learn together, share together. It is the single most important relationship outside of our relationship with the Trinity that exists. Marriage is not always sunshine and lollipops. It is more like a wine that ages. Wine starts with grapes in the summertime. It's sunny and beautiful and active. The grapes go through so many changes before being ready to pour into your favorite glass. Those grapes have to be stomped, strained, fermented and waited on. It is good in the beginning and it is good at the end regardless of the process it took to get there!

I could say so much more. We talked this week about being intentional in our marriages. It is so important to make intentional progress in your relationship. As one speaker said (I think it was Sheila Gregoire) "we cannot drift together - we can only drift apart." So, if we aren't taking active steps to at the least maintain our marriage if not grow it then logic would tell me that you are contributing to the act of drifting apart. Drifting is a verb, it is active. I don't want to actively go in that direction!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our marriages. Thank you for our wonderful husbands! Show us this day how we can take steps to honor and encourage our husbands. Help us actively persue a closer relationship with them. Remind us daily that we cannot drift together but must remain active.

In Christs loving name we pray

Amen!