“I think we’re more different than we are alike…”

I brushed off my husband’s comment.

I admit that I felt a bit hurt… but the more I thought about it, I realized he was right.

I can sit through a Hallmark movie marathon, he prefers anything involving the Mafia.

I like chicken, he likes steak.

I crave brownies, he loves cheesecake.

I’m a homebody, he finds any excuse to go out.

I enjoy hanging out in my comfort zone, he’s a risk-taker.

In discussing his relationship with his wife, former professional football player Tim Tebow said “…We don’t really have a lot in common,…but we have a lot in calling, purpose, meaning, significance…”

When I listened to Tebow’s statement in an interview, it made me think back to what my husband had said.

It’s true. Since my husband and I were bound together through our love for Jesus, all the other things were surface.

It made me think back to our first date.

My heart was pounding as I heard a car pull up to the front of our house. I clutched my purse tightly and smoothed down my hair.

I gave a nervous smile to my parents who were watching me, my dad peering through the curtains.

I wasn’t sure why I had agreed to this. I would have much rather stayed home, curled up on the couch, reading a book.

I think I may have even preferred sitting in the library, studying for a test.

But, a date?

Who would want to marry a bookworm? I wasn’t as outgoing or adventurous as my friends. I prefer staying home in my sweatshirt than glamming up and going out.

“Hi”, I said casually, when my dad opened the door. I tried to act cool but my face felt warm. He came inside and greeted my parents and then after an awkward silence, we walked to the car.

Over dinner, the conversation we had revealed to me a lot about his character. All the questions I grilled him with revealed that we shared the same purpose and had passion for God.

Fortunately, “risk-taker” or “adventurous” weren’t priority preferences for my husband. We probably wouldn’t have hit it off that first day.

We have been married over ten years. It doesn’t mean we don’t have conflict. We do.

But because we both prayed for each other before we even met…

Because we both believe that God brought us to fulfill a special purpose that could do better together…

Because we commit to praying for our marriage every week…

We know that no matter how different God made us, we have a purpose-driven marriage.

Our differences have actually sharpened us as individuals and helped us grow as a couple.

That is truly the work of the Holy Spirit, and I am grateful for it.

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)