5 Years of Marital Bliss

Things I have learned in 5 years of marriage

Marriage is a beautiful devotion between two people before God! Marriage is forever and in most cases only happens once. This one day will forever be ingrained into ones memory. I have no idea what my flowers looked like, I can’t remember the cake or what food we served. What I do remember is seeing the man of my dreams look at me for the first time with tears in his eyes. I remember being so nervous I slipped away from everyone for some quiet time with God. I remember praying for my future marriage and husband and feeling an over whelming happiness. I remember laughing as my father, my first love, walked me down the aisle. The feeling of my dad’s since of pride that his only daughter was getting married. I would not trade these precious moments for anything. They mean more to me than any photograph or gift.

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As I awoke today on our five-year anniversary a since of joy and pride swept over me. Five years, half a decade! I cannot wait to spend one-hundred more half-decades with this man! As I looked over to a sleeping Jeffrey I remembered our five-years of marriage. To most five-years is simple and young (and yes, that is true), but to me our five-years of marriage are full and complex. We have grown so much as a couple before God and as a husband and wife individually before God.

I cannot speak for my husband of five-years, but I can speak for myself. Here is what I have learned:

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• Never use the “D-word”. This is a nasty, not so nice word that holds empty threats and is just plain mean. I made this mistake once and I promise I will never, ever, ever use it again. We are all human and I slipped one day and used the ugly “D-word”. It was like word vomit. I hated myself for it and to make it worse, I really hurt the man I love and would never “D-word” him. So why say it if you don’t mean it.

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• There will be good times and there will be bad times, but through it all you have your best friend. When you say your vows, “for better or for worse”, they are real! Jeffrey and I have been through a lot! We have moved from GA-FL-NC-SC (and who knows where else). Basically, we have moved a lot. We have loved some places and hated others. We have made amazing decisions and some not so good ones. We have struggled and cried as well as flourished and laughed. Through it all we have done it together, side by side. Jeffrey is my partner in crime, my best friend. He is the one thing that no matter where we go or what we do, he will always be there.

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• Always “date” one another. Although we have been married, we always make time to each other without friends or distractions like TV or computers. We go on dates. We will go hiking, hit the beach, or go out to dinner. We make time to see each other and enjoy their company.

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• Listen to each other. I am guilty of not stopping from my busy life to simply listen. I am not talking about listening to their story about what happened in the news, I am talking about really listening and hearing what they feel and think about your current situation. In life there are a TON of BIG, HUGE, LIFE-CHANGING decisions you will have to make. These are the times that you should sit and listen! Jeffrey and I have made a lot of decisions together (some great, some not so great) through it all, we listened to one another and guess what? It all worked out. Although we stressed and cried (A LOT) God was at work. Jeff and I talked and strategized and planned as a team and it worked! Always listen.

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• God is number one in any marriage. Although Jeffrey is my better half, I do not idolize or worship him. Jeffrey is my partner, my equal. We are an amazing team of people under God our King. God is always first in our marriage and we always look to him for trust and answers. We seek God and ask him for abundant blessings. Jeffrey and I never looked to each other as idols. Jeffrey is not my King and I am not his Queen (this makes me laugh just typing it). Always keep your spouse as your equal. Remember they are human and will make mistakes and that is ok, love them for it!

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Five great lessons out of five amazing years! I am not even going to pretend like I have it all figured out because I don't. We still have a lot to learn and a lot more growing to do and I cannot wait! Thank you Jeffrey for helping me turn into the woman I am today. I can’t image doing life with anyone else. No matter where life takes us I know I have you as my partner in crime. 

Happy Anniversary!!!! 

-Kelsey