Yes, two years later… :) Happy Birthday to the hubs!!!

That little thing called a kid has been keeping our hands full! It’s been months of drool, wipes, milk, diapers, giggles, burps, tears, gurgles, stroller-ing and more… We’ve gone to San Francisco, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Portland, Austin, Salt Lake City, Canyons, Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Yep, all with the munchkin!!!!

Thought it was high time for a post… So this catchy song has been playing around the radio recently and the title seems vaguely familiar. :)) Meghan, I totally got ya with the anniversary flowers (but keep expectations low after year 5, ha!), sleeping on the left side of the bed, not learning how to cook (well?), a nice ring, opening doors, date nights (forsake these not!) and such…

But now, coming from the other side of DFH (as in marriage!), I’m reminded what’s also (or mostly?) involved is self-denial, sacrifice, sanctification, servanthood, picking up our cross daily. It’s about giving, not always in expectation of a return… or giving but not even thinking about it — as Love is the relentless force/strength behind it.

This passage always lingers near: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” -Philippians 2:3-8

And these:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” -1 Peter 4:8

“Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” -Ephesians 4:2-3

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32

TOUGH STUFF! I mean, there are so many times I read these verses and I’m like, seriously? But yes, the stuff of true, deep, long-lasting marriages. The GOOD stuff.

I stumbled across this and it spoke to me: “The husband is bound by love to ensure
that his wife finds their marriage a source of rich fulfillment and joyful service to the Lord.” -ESV Study Bible

Not to ourselves. Not to me. Not to my husband. So, ultimately, it’s not about us. We are not the point. It’s about Him.

PS: And so, too, parenthood… But that’s a whole other story. ;-P