Hey everybody!
Growing up, I didn't have a ton of good influences. I had people who loved me, teachers who cared for me, and friends who wanted to spend time with me, but when it came a prayerful, Godly influence... well, I just didn't have that. I don't mean to get too personal, so I won't go into details, but it was on my own shoulders to figure out some of the major things in life.
Like everyone else, I'm not perfect. Not even close. And I've failed miserably at times. I've been married twice and (as of last year) neither have worked out. As someone who is surrounded by marriage + love + weddings for a living, you'd think I would clue in a little bit better. Well, I've begun to! I talked last week about the book I've been reading, The Meaning of Marriage, by Timothy Keller. In the book he breaks down (biblically) what the vows we repeat mean, and explains how truly significant the words we speak on our wedding day are. I have to admit that I didn't see the true meaning of SERVING a spouse until I read these pages. And I have to admit (and hate to admit) that even though I believe in Jesus, that he died for me, and that he rose and conquered death... I did a pretty lousy job of initiating prayer in my past relationships. I did a bad job of going to the Word when I was faced with life's choices.
I'm thankful that God has led me to this place in life (this HARD place!) where He is showing me how to rely on Him, showing me how to make Him the focus and center of my relationships, and I'm thankful He has put friends in my life that I pray with now. Though I know it'll probably be awhile before I have the opportunity to pray with my future wife, I look forward to building a relationship with her having the Lord be in the center. And if I never get that opportunity, I'm thankful at least that I have my friends who also love Jesus, who have shown me grace and forgiveness, and have provided me with some good spiritual influence we all could use more of.
I love this shot of Maggie and Kevin, who embody the blog text today. They are a couple who practice grace and prayer and believe in the Lord as the center of relationships, and I am so proud to know them.
Talk to you soon,
Dale