He makes all things beautiful...In His Time

Five years ago today, the most amazing man in the whole world asked me if I was willing for him to court me. Of course!! I had had a crush on this guy for six years. Most of you know the story of our courtship and marriage, so I want to share something else that I haven't shared before. When I said "yes" to him, I knew I was ready to fall head over heels in love with this man,but what I did not know was that it was the beginning of the most beautiful and difficult road of my life. You know those gorgeous pictures you see on calendars of majestic mountain tops and glorious wildlife? Those photos aren't taken without a lot of pain and hard work. I've learned it's the same way with marriage. The most important thing I have learned in the last five years of my life is, if you want something to be beautiful, you are going to have to work for it. I love my man like crazy, but love isn't all it takes to have a beautiful marriage. It takes forgiveness, trust, obedience, and the willingness to work side by side with your man through every trial and temptation. Being a virtuous woman means being strong, valiant, and mighty. Virtue isn't just about purity of mind and body, its about being a hero (or heroine) of the faith. When this guy talked to me that night about why he wanted to court me, he told me that he had seen that I was a virtuous woman. You don't know how many times those words have pricked me and convicted me. I know that's not what he meant them for, but the memory of that night and those words remind me when I am no longer being a virtuous woman. And this is not something that I have learned my lesson, received a passing grade for, and moved on. No, this lesson plan is one that will never be finished until the Lord takes me home. Two nights ago even, I had a very hard lesson to learn in this area. I have to admit, it hurt. A lot. But the mercies of God are new every morning, and all praise to the Father, I am striving once again to be that virtuous woman that my man fell in love with. Every time I start thinking, "Oh, I've got this marriage and mommy thing down, no problem", God does one of those loving smacks on the head to remind me that I will never ever have it down. God must be REALLY patient! I am so grateful to God that I am not in control of my life, because I would have it totally messed up and turned inside out by now! He truly is a merciful Lord. With each anniversary that goes by, I realize more and more of how much I have yet to learn. I remember thinking when I was a little kid, "Life will be so easy when I grow up 'cause I'll know everything." Umm, yeah right! The older I get, God shows me just how much I have left to learn, and it's a bunch. But I will strive to continue to learn because I want to have a beautiful marriage. I love my man a bunch, but I love my Jesus more. And because of that I will persevere to finish the race that He has set before me. Right now that race track is being a wife and mother. I want my life to look like those gorgeous pictures of mountains and animals. I want others to see a beautiful creation of the Master. I know that if I am faithful to fight the fight and run the race, I will hear my Savior say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Then will I know that I am a beautiful creation: virtuous, valiant, and strong. And I know that my husband will be right there beside me, loving me even more than ever before.

In His time, In His time,

He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Lord, please show me every day,

As You're teaching me Your way,

That You do just what You say,

In Your time.

~Tyana~