They told us that we were celebrating the crystal anniversary. Obviously that got me asking the question: What is a crystal?
Meanwhile, what makes this anniversary particularly special is that this will be the only time we celebrate the year of our wedding on the date number.
We thought about what we could do to make the most of that. There was an idea of doing a photo and video montage highlighting the various stages in the journey we’ve taken. We were inspired to consider the whole family in the project. Then other things came up that meant we were not able. Though that’s a project we will look to come back to.
Well how else could we take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to mark this step in the relationship? What we did was a count-up as a countdown. Every day from the beginning of the month would represent the corresponding year. We would spend the time in the day reflecting on what happened to us during that year. The lessons we learnt, the pain we endured, the fun we had, the great times we enjoyed. We would reflect on them all and once more rejoice in the faithful God who has kept us together.
The more we reflected, the greater the grace and the mercy of God appeared. When we went through the valleys, He was there, when we climbed the mountain-tops, He was there. When we moved to Newcastle-under-Lyme, He was there. When we moved to Little Hulton, He was there. When we moved to Bletchley, He was there. When we moved to derby, He was there. When we returned to Stoke-on-Trent, He was there. Always there. Always protecting. Always guiding. Always providing. Always present. Always there.
We were not always there for each other. But as He was there for us, we soon caught up with Him and discovered love for each other afresh.
She loves me now more that she’s ever loved me before. She prays for me now more fervently than ever before (because God knows she needs all the help she can get with me). She fights for me, she supports me, she cheers me on, she challenges me more and she believes in God more for us.
For all that, she knows there’s more to know. She knows the journey is not over yet and there’s more to learn. She’s up for it. Now even more than she was when she walked down the aisle in that church facility on Sunday 15th June 2003.
Relationships are necessarily multi-faceted. The best ones celebrate the depth to be found in them and are clear that however hard the road may be, there’s always a part that can emerge to deal with it and strengthen the relationship further through it.
I would never be so foolhardy to suggest that our marriage is perfect. I would equally never be so foolhardy to ignore magnificent expressions of grace through the years – from the three wonderful daughters God has given us in the marriage to the many brilliant, bold and benevolent saints and angels He has sent our way to help us in our journey.
As I look into her eyes again, I know God is real for only someone so divine could have created someone so beautiful.
Our marriage has definitely helped me to discover all the more, the true meaning of a crystal.
(Photo by Hao Zhang on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 