I's Married Now!

I guess I will take the next few posts to introduce myself and tell a little about what's going on with me. Today's article came to me as I sat looking at wedding photos last night. (My new favorite past time!)

I am a newlywed! After many long years as a single mother, at the tender age of forty two, I became a blushing, first time bride. This may surprise some of you. I must admit it came as a surprise to me.

In my twenties I spent much of my time searching for "the one". I persistently moved from relationship to relationship, hoping to find Mr. Right. I was diligent in my search, determined to find myself a suitable husband and a father for my two young sons.

As I moved into my thirties the search became much more serious. All around me family and friends were getting married, settling down. Some, by then, were working on marriage number two or three even. Those really got to me!You know how the saying goes, "always a bridesmaid...", blah, blah, blah.

But I told myself it was ok if it took a little longer for me. Afterall, I only planned to do the marriage thing once so it HAD to be right. Even so, the search was draining. With each failed relationship, I lost a little of myself. My once healthy self esteem began to suffer. I succumbed to thoughts that maybe I just wasn't worthy. Then came the worst lie the devil ever tells a woman, wrapped in four little words - "what's wrong with me?" Finally, too defeated to keep up the search and too proud to admit to anyone I was defeated, I just quit searching...

And it was the BEST thing I ever could have done! See, during those years, without me taking much notice, a wonderful thing happened to me. As I was raising my sons, attending school, working a full time job (sometimes two), I was also falling in love, with God. I came to know I could lean on Him when my load got heavy. I came to know the power of prayer and I discovered that when I was too tired to go on, it was the Lord who carried me. "My flesh and my heart may fail, butGod is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26  I began to put all my energy into the one relationship that mattered. I began to seek God with my whole heart and to worship and love Him with all that is within me.

Then, it happened. God in His infinite wisdom and infallible timing, sent a man who was made to love me! When I stopped searching... well, let me put it this way, WHEN I MOVED OUT OF THE WAY and let God, who is the source of all love, show me what He had for me, it happened over night. God sent me Will. A man strong in character, full of faith and rooted in the Word of God. A man I could only recognize and appreciate after I came to know my heavenly Father intimately.

Will and I dated only four months before we were engaged and we married thirteen months later, this past August. I could not be happier. Now when I look at my husband, I thank God for him. And when he shows his love for me in a million small ways each day, I smile, knowing that is just God showing off!

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:13-14