As I reflect on five years of marriage I am humbled at what a miracle it is to remain married to someone for five years. It’s one thing to make it to five or ten years living with someone with whom you have no real commitment, just a mutual agreement that as long you meet my needs, I’ll meet your needs. If things get too hairy, just pack up and roll out for a couple days and everything will be fine. It’s a different story entirely when you sign the marriage covenant, and take it serious. Then the agreement is that no matter what, we’re in this together Honey. With that, every year is a miracle. Five years, ten, twenty—a grace from above.
I have many friends living under the first agreement. This is by no means meant as an attack upon you personally. I am simply encouraging you that if you really love that person you live with like you think you do, then honor them, and honor God, marry them. Until then, I’m sorry to say, you’re just playing pretend. Your arrangement is nothing more than a mockery of the real thing.
Marriage, and all that it represents, is a precious thing indeed. Far too many take it lightly today. God’s faithfulness to his people is simply astounding. This is what marriage is meant to convey, the faithful covenant between God and his people. That is why divorce is such a horror, and despised by the Lord. That’s also the reason that simply living with someone is nothing more than a mockery, and in all truthfulness, a profanation of marriage. Not only is it a grievous sin to live with someone outside of the bond of marriage, it’s also thumbing your nose at the Creator of the universe.
So in light of our personal five-year miracle, I would like to say “Happy Anniversary” to my beautiful bride.We have endured some serious storms in these five short years. It has been very hard at times, but I do not despair in our sufferings.
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
—Romans 5:3-5
I look forward to growing old with you, for I know that your light-hearted humor will carry us into the years with many smiles. I pray that we will leave a legacy of grace, perseverance, and love for our children to cherish well into their lives. And so, may the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
I love you.
Free to Think 