Like this:

This past Sunday Joe and I celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary! The day was simple but perfect: CT (Central Teaching, the Sunday gathering at our church), pancakes and eggs for lunch, gifts (an iTunes gift card for him, and a iPod dock for me — not balanced, really!) and a picnic at Whetstone Park (sandwiches and homemade couscous salad and mango salsa — you’d think we’re health nuts, but we stopped for Dairy Queen after our ‘granola’ dinner!).

If you’ve been alongside me for the past year or two or three — but especially the past year, you’ve probably noted either a.) How messy I am, b.) How crazy I seem, or c.) That God seems to be shaping my heart in a unique way. Tenderizing it. Which makes me sound like a piece of meat, but any way I try to explain it it comes out the same: I am broken. Through Jesus God glues me together and sees me whole, not as a bunch of mismatched puzzle pieces. This has been good. And difficult. But especially good because of this sweet man Jesus united me with last year.

Here’s a few ways that God has shown me his grace (a completely unmerited favor or gift) through Joe:

• I’ve realized how deeply pride is embedded into my innermost being. Before marriage, I think I’d fooled myself into thinking that, “Eh, I’m not that selfish, envious, bitter…that’s them [fill-in-the-blank person with issues that 'I don't have']…” Whew. What a lie! I’m all of these — and often all at once! In very real ways, Joe has made me thankful that my worth in life is not dependent upon my moment-by-moment actions, but on the acceptance that God has granted to me through his Son. He’s shown me love when I’ve not deserved it, and drawn near to me when the last thing I wanted to do was engage in conversation. So thankful.
• I’ve been able to ‘let down my hair’ a little! A lot, actually. For example: If it were up to me, our new kitty Andy wouldn’t sleep on the edge of the bed because he sheds a ton and we end up washing our linens all. the. time. But Joe, in his gentle way, says, “Jessie, it doesn’t really matter; PLUS, Andy really wants to sleep with us!” And I cave in. Every time. (That’s a silly example, but at least a weekly issue!)
• Joe is so-o-o different than me! When I first started shooting Joe ‘the look’ (you know what I mean, girls!) in the Black and Magenta office a few years ago, and as we began to spend time together exploring faith in Jesus with other friends at Muskingum College, I began to think, “We are so alike! This is great!” Which is true — to some degree! — but wow, are we different! Joe needs a night in to rest up from a crazy weekend of travel, and I’m ready to go out with friends by Monday evening. He loves board games; I don’t. He thinks before he speaks; sometimes I ‘blurt and regret.’ Thank you, God, that we are so different, but brought together as one flesh to represent Christ and his Church, and the loving pursuit he has for us, regardless of our character flaws and [in]differences.

Happy Anniversary, Joe. I love you.

Advertisement