Into the Fire

Today is my husband’s birthday. I love him. So much.

He’s a passionate man who grew up a lot different from me—more family dysfunction, divorce, step-dad, half brother and sister, just shy of poverty at times, not a good role model for a father. He was wild and crazy at a very young age.

And, like me, he didn’t find Jesus until he was 30 years old, approximately two years after I did which was right after we got married.

On Monday we will have been married for 29 years. I won’t tell you it seems like just yesterday because it doesn’t. We are so much better now.

Some people survived the “drugs, sex, rock ‘n’ roll” generation, moving into adulthood without sampling the various addictions the 60s and early 70s offered. I know my personal moral collapse came late after I allowed the lyrics of that phenomenal feast of music to seduce me into believing what I thought to be wrong would be alright.

It wasn’t. And I paid for it. In so many ways.

We survived the destructive ways we embraced because our Lord rescued us at just the right time—when we could finally see through the “purple haze” (sorry, couldn’t resist that) and differentiate between good and evil. Thank you, Jesus.

Only Jesus can redeem. No program, no personal therapy, no hypnotherapy, no nothing can undo the damage of sin. Only Jesus.

As much as my husband and I love each other—and we’re certainly better at it now than in our younger years—we wouldn’t be celebrating his birthday or a 29th anniversary together without God’s intervention in our lives. I can guarantee that. Too many ways to give up and allow the trials of living 24/7 with another human being to give in to selfish ways and me-centered demands. The philosophy of this world is killer to love and marriage. And it’s also killer to the meaning of making love, settling upon the lesser one-sided, me-focused, temporary satisfaction of lust.

Just my thoughts and reflections as I anticipate his smile when he receives the new Seahawks hat and long-sleeve Seahawks T to go under his Matt Hasselbeck jersey.

Father, thank you for my man to whom I am devoted. You have allowed us to learn to love your way, the best way, and we’re still working on it—but at least we’re getting better at it. You have been gracious and patient with us, and we are grateful for your perseverance. We weren’t good students in the beginning. And we’re not that astute even now, but we know you love us and we can count on you when we don’t mean to but can’t help but fail each other. We love you, Lord, and because your love is in us, we love each other deeply. Make us better yet together in serving you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.