As usual, I met with my accountability partner this morning. We got our coffee and some breakfast and sat down in our usual spot. The Superbowl is coming up soon so we talked about that a bit. Talked about church yesterday and how things are going at home. He asked about my marriage. I told him about what happened on Tuesday.
I came home from school just after Jade had gone to sleep. She asked me to tell her goodnight when I got home so I went into the dark bedroom. I leaned down and she whispered, “goodnight”. After the long drive of thinking about our relationship and what God had done I felt I had to say something. “Jade, we have been through a lot. You are my best friend.” She grabbed my hand and I kissed her on the forehead.
My accountability partner smiled. I told him, “At some point, you go through so much with one person and survive, they really are your best friend.” His face changed and he looked at me with an expression I had never seen before. It was sincere. It was intense. But something in his face told me that he connected very deeply with what I had just said. After a moment he just shook his head and said, “Yes”.
There is something about that conversation with my friend that stuck with me. I’m not quite sure what it is but I left that table feeling encouraged and enlightened. This guy has been married more than twice as long as I, so for him to relate to my words positively was meaningful.
As I walked to the car I thought about how I worded what I said to him. “At some point, you go through so much with one person and survive, they really are your best friend.” There seems to be a lot about that statement that’s right. Marriage is remarkable. I have never had to work harder at anything in my life. God gave me Jade as a gift, protected us in His love, cared for us by His arm, provided for us through His power and by His grace He has brought us through. I pray for the strength of my marriage to grow stronger every day between here and death.
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So many people give up far too soon… and then have to go through all the hard stuff again… and again….with someone else…and maybe even someone else after that…with some never getting beyond the hard stuff…ever!!! How discouraging that would be. No triumphs to celebrate. No victories won. Only battles that defeated them…over and over again. So sad. By amazing grace…you won…we all did…and continue to be inspired and encouraged and strengthened by your life w/ Jade.. and our lives w/ each other. Now THAT is amazing!!
This is great! I pray that your brothers will experience the same joy and satisfaction in their marriages. Of course, I know your have a good example in your parents lives;