28 years of marriage!! Wow!! To the same man even...
First of all, I don't feel old enough to have been married that long.
Second of all, what a blessing these years have been.
"But by the grace of God"
this is the phrase that comes to mind when I think back over the last 28 years. How did we end up here? Happy and together.
I love Steve more deeply now then I did as a pregnant 18yr old. The only thing I truly knew back then was I loved this boy and wanted to make a life with him. I knew that living together was not an option, marriage was the only option. I was not going to be a single mom or live together endlessly. But as a young girl raised basically by a single mom I knew nothing of how to make a marriage last and work. This is where God stepped in and protected me from myself.
There have been many blessings and many trials. Life has a way of testing the bonds of marriage.
Our society doesn't value or support marriage. Society preaches and teaches selfishness, tending to our own desires. Getting what is mine, and if I don't then walk away.
Christianity preaches dying to one self for the benefit of the other. My salvation is dependent on Steve and his salvation is dependent on me. We are each others crosses, as well as each others Simon of Cyrene. Helping each other and loving each other.
Steve has baggage, I have baggage. I can either stay here and work through it, live on my own, or I can try to deal with a new persons baggage. Really the choice is mine. The choice also is Steve's as well. Luckily we are both committed to making this marriage work. Not just last but work. We want our marriage to be a source of joy in our lives.
Believe me there are times when the joy is hard to find. But we have been blessed in so many ways. 4 beautiful children, great family and friends. Luckily our Catholic faith is important to both of us. Many of the things we call "deal breakers" we have worked through. I know we will have more challenges and struggles. I know there will be times when we will feel beaten down. I pray that we will always find each other and be stronger for it in the end.
St Joseph, my patron saint, was quietly doing the work of God without fanfare or a big voice. Just doing what's needs to be done. I often look to him as an example of how to live my life, how to fully dedicate myself to my marriage and family. I also ask him to pray for Steve and I and our family to The Lord. I pray that God's grace continue to be at work in our marriage.
