Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Time to Celebrate

First of all, I would like to say that you are not crazy and I did redecorate my blog for Christmas. I know, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. But I figured that I might as well do it now so that when it truly is Christmas time, I will be prepared. Besides, I only get to have it this way for like a month, so I am going to enjoy it while I can. 

Now, let's move on. Today marks 5 years of dating for Alex and I. This year it also happens to be the last time we will celebrate our dating relationship. And the best part about that is that we get to start celebrating our marriage after this year.

One of the things I have been thinking about the most in the past couple days is the beginning of my relationship with Alex. For those of you who know the whole story, you know that God had his hand on our relationship before we even had any feelings for each other. Our friendship formed through youth group, leading the worship team together and going on mission trips together. And I love that when we started dating, we got to continue those things as a couple. Our relationship was built on a foundation of ministry and that is something that we are both so excited to continue as a married couple. 

Alex and I have learned that when it comes to ministry, we are so much better as a team than we are when we each do things on our own. God brought us together and taught us to serve together before we were in a relationship so, when we started dating, He had already prepared us to serve as a couple with out us realizing it. And I am so looking forward to seeing how God will use us as a married couple. 

I have learned so much about love these past 5 years. And many of you have heard this passage of scripture from 1 Corinthians 13, but I am going to quote it here anyway.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I am still learning about love. And I know I will be for the rest of my life. But I can say confidently that my relationship with Alex has taught me some of the best things about love and some of the hardest parts of love. I think my favorite part of this passage is "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." I have learned how true this is; how powerful love can really be. And I try every day to not take it for granted.

Today, Alex and I are going to take time to celebrate the past 5 years together and enjoy looking forward to the rest of our lives together. I cannot express how thankful I am for Alex. When I was a teenager, thinking about who I wanted to be with, I never thought that I would end up with someone as wonderful as him.

I guess all that is really left to say is that I love you, Alex.