Have you seen this photo yet?
It’s been making it’s social media rounds and it’s just wow. *sigh* Check out the full album here.
It’s especially sweet to see because today Scott and I are celebrating 14 years of marriage. It was a sweet day. A sweet, sweet, memorable day.
What I would say to that couple and me, 14 years ago would be this:
It’s gonna get hard. I know you’re nodding your head but it’s way harder than you think. You’re going to say mean things and think meaner things and want to get violent and walk away. You might love someone else and be just fine with not kissing him all day.
I know you can’t imagine that because right now because you’re saying We’re different. It couldn’t happen to us. But really, you’re going to wonder if you were feeling sane on your wedding day when you said I do and you’re going to wish you’d thought a little harder.
But.
Hold on.
If you just do it God’s way and forgive and assume the best and follow the golden rule and kiss anyway, the joy on the other side is a love you can’t even imagine right now. It’s as beautiful as a groom crying over his bride but soul deep. It’s a different beautiful that can’t be manufactured because it’s not made of new, but of all the broken pieces taped and glued together.
And you’ll see all the pieces are really glimpses of God.
That one piece where you loved someone else and he kept loving you anyway.
That one piece where you were mad and yelled and he kept loving you anyway.
That one piece where you ignored him and he kept loving you anyway.
That one piece where you thought about walking away and he kept loving you anyway.
Marriage is forgiveness and faithfulness and love at its best and worst. I hope you experience every piece.
To Scott, thanks for loving me anyway.
If you haven’t read my book Entangled, which is one big broken, beautiful piece of our marriage, I’d love to offer some hope in your broken. Use code 14 here and get the PDF free.
Heather W. says
Love this! Congrats again. And can we just talk about how skinny my arm looks in this pic and how fat I felt that day….
Amy says
Um, let’s not talk about how skinny everyone was. Except somehow, Scott looks like he might be thinner these days…
The Carolina Clipper says
Love the “It’s a different beautiful that can’t be manufactured because it’s not made of new, but of all the broken pieces taped and glued together. ” We’re hitting 11 years this month and I can relate to every word of this post.
Amy says
Thank you. Happy Anniversary this month! Not sure about your experience but I think 7-10 years were our hardest and we’ve been on an upswing for 11-14.
Liz says
And you loved him anyway, too. Don’t forget that part.
Your posts keeping making me cry this week! 🙂 Happy anniversary and many many more!!!
Amy says
Yes, yes I did 🙂 Thank you!