It has been a difficult few years.
In a world where the economy shifts and is uncertain, life brings its challenges, its aches, and the family grows older, it is hard to stay together.
But between them, there is this glue...
They've said good byes, yes. To their little ones who grew big and spread their wings out of the nest. They've said good bye to dreams that didn't come true and dreams that were fulfilled to start fresh. They've said good bye to themselves, sacrificing to put others ahead of their own needs.
But they've welcomed... they've welcomed people from all walks into their lives, opened their doors, their hearts to say yes and to serve. They opened up to dog after dog, and just one more stray kitten, and horse, and donkey. They welcomed the challenges. They welcomed the joys.
And they welcomed us... four little girls they prayed for, through good times and bad, sleepless nights, hard lessons learned, birthday parties, basketball games, ballet recitals, and graduation days. And they created this home.
Because between them, there is this glue...
It started maybe 30 years ago. Two college kids met, developed a friendship, and this friendship became love. So he asked, she said yes, and they promised, dressed in white and grey, surrounded by love.
They promised forever. Through the heart ache and the trials. Through the arguments and the sleepless nights. Through the fear, the uncertainty, the aging, the wrinkles.
They promised forever. Through the joys, and the laughter. The tears that only come when the heart is completely happy. The contentment. The friendship, the partnership, the inside jokes, and the connection that only two people who know each other completely can share. Through the growing old together, the family that would grow, the love that grows stronger every day.
They promised to refine each other, to make each other stronger, softer, better than they were the day before.
And there is this glue that has held them together.
It started long before their eyes first met. It started with saying yes to Him, promising Him forever, through the good times and the bad.
And so, in saying yes, they learned to lay their lives down, to prepare for the sacrifices that would one day come. And He gave her the heart that is always open to serve others, always makes her presence a home. And He gave him the heart that sees people who need to be served, a presence that is safe and comforting.
And He brought them together, and these two, better together than apart, became one... and a perfect compliment to each other.
Sure, when you combine two into one, there is a bending and a stretching, a push and a pull, a give and a take. But they had already practiced with Him, so this became an extension of the lessons learned under His direction. And they said yes.
They will be the first to tell you its not perfect. They will be the first to tell you that life is hard, love is a decision, and every choice has not been the right one.
But they will also tell you that there is no one else... He is for her, she is for him, and that is all they need. They were ready to say yes when the first promise came, and they have said yes in the 27 years since.
Because, they will also tell you, that there is this glue holding them together... His love that does not alter and never fades away.
So thank you... to the 46 chromosomes that resulted in me, the decisions to say yes that give me the courage to say yes, the home that gave me the lessons, the joy, this life. The love I pray I am able to have one day.
Thank you for the glue that holds you together. And may it grow stronger every day.
In a world where the economy shifts and is uncertain, life brings its challenges, its aches, and the family grows older, it is hard to stay together.
But between them, there is this glue...
They've said good byes, yes. To their little ones who grew big and spread their wings out of the nest. They've said good bye to dreams that didn't come true and dreams that were fulfilled to start fresh. They've said good bye to themselves, sacrificing to put others ahead of their own needs.
But they've welcomed... they've welcomed people from all walks into their lives, opened their doors, their hearts to say yes and to serve. They opened up to dog after dog, and just one more stray kitten, and horse, and donkey. They welcomed the challenges. They welcomed the joys.
And they welcomed us... four little girls they prayed for, through good times and bad, sleepless nights, hard lessons learned, birthday parties, basketball games, ballet recitals, and graduation days. And they created this home.
Because between them, there is this glue...
It started maybe 30 years ago. Two college kids met, developed a friendship, and this friendship became love. So he asked, she said yes, and they promised, dressed in white and grey, surrounded by love.
They promised forever. Through the heart ache and the trials. Through the arguments and the sleepless nights. Through the fear, the uncertainty, the aging, the wrinkles.
They promised forever. Through the joys, and the laughter. The tears that only come when the heart is completely happy. The contentment. The friendship, the partnership, the inside jokes, and the connection that only two people who know each other completely can share. Through the growing old together, the family that would grow, the love that grows stronger every day.
They promised to refine each other, to make each other stronger, softer, better than they were the day before.
And there is this glue that has held them together.
It started long before their eyes first met. It started with saying yes to Him, promising Him forever, through the good times and the bad.
And so, in saying yes, they learned to lay their lives down, to prepare for the sacrifices that would one day come. And He gave her the heart that is always open to serve others, always makes her presence a home. And He gave him the heart that sees people who need to be served, a presence that is safe and comforting.
And He brought them together, and these two, better together than apart, became one... and a perfect compliment to each other.
Sure, when you combine two into one, there is a bending and a stretching, a push and a pull, a give and a take. But they had already practiced with Him, so this became an extension of the lessons learned under His direction. And they said yes.
They will be the first to tell you its not perfect. They will be the first to tell you that life is hard, love is a decision, and every choice has not been the right one.
But they will also tell you that there is no one else... He is for her, she is for him, and that is all they need. They were ready to say yes when the first promise came, and they have said yes in the 27 years since.
Because, they will also tell you, that there is this glue holding them together... His love that does not alter and never fades away.
So thank you... to the 46 chromosomes that resulted in me, the decisions to say yes that give me the courage to say yes, the home that gave me the lessons, the joy, this life. The love I pray I am able to have one day.
Thank you for the glue that holds you together. And may it grow stronger every day.
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