Last night, I sat on the edge of my daughter’s bed as she was getting ready to sleep.
Now that she’s older, bedtime stories have transitioned from silly made-up adventures to deeper real-life conversations.
Stressors at school, teachers, and relationships are just a few of the topics we chat about in the dark.
Sometimes we giggle, and other times, I just listen as she vents.
Growing up these days is hard, ya’ll.
Yesterday was a little lighter. She said, “I like hearing about how you met Daddy.”
It’s a story she’s heard plenty of times, but it prompted my journey down memory lane.
She ooh’d and aah’d and laughed as I recounted the first time I met Daddy.
She reminded me along the way of details I had left out.
I think she was dreaming of her future, too.
I was tired, but it was refreshing to recall all those fun memories and to share it with my little sweetie.
After my time with her, it was time for me to wind down myself. I headed to my room and opened a book that was gifted to me by my father, an avid reader.
It’s a captivating book that looks at marriage from a biblical perspective, and it’s been my read for a few weeks.
As I was in the middle of the chapter, I was suddenly awakened by the reality of the words in the book.
“A marriage is not so much the union of two great lovers as it is of two great forgivers.”
Wow.
It goes on to say this: “Great marriages are made up of two people who. have committed themselves to daily forgiving one another.”
Daily.
Every. Single. Day.
“The first day I met Daddy” story never hints at daily forgiveness. I mean, the thought of daily forgiving this guy I fell in love with NEVER entered my mind in those early days.
We were just staring into each others’ eyes and dreaming about a future together. Everything was just perfect.
Well, welcome to marriage, my friends.
As each day passes, you realize is that you are just two sinners in need of a Savior. And no one knows that more than your spouse.
I want to acknowledge that many times, there are serious offenses in marriages and there are times when the couple should seek help from a professional marriage counselor or a Pastor as they navigate serious hurts.
There are other times when the toilet paper was turned the wrong way or when the toothpaste was squeezed from the middle. Those are the smaller situations that can wedge people apart.
The truth of those statements from the book hit me hard.
My husband isn’t perfect…but newsflash: I ain’t perfect, either.
I need to daily forgive him for the small offenses…just as he forgives me for mine.
The book of Hosea is the beautiful picture of a man pursuing his bride, Gomer, though she repeatedly leaves Hosea for other lovers. Over and over, Hosea forgives her, loves her, and shows her grace.
This story represents God’s love for you and me. Each time we turn away, he forgives us and loves us unconditionally.
May we be women who pursue to forgive every. single. day. so that we can love our spouses just like Christ loves us.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
~Elizabeth/Betsy
*Photo from our early days
