Celebrating Year-After-Year

27th anniversary

This morning your Daddy and I will be returning from our anniversary trip. Yes, our anniversary was last week, but with Daddy's work schedule of late, this was the earliest the two of us could get away for a couple of days. And we needed it.

You know very well that your father and I make sure we disappear for even just a couple of days every year on our anniversary (which is tricky since it falls in the middle of football season each year). But that is how important celebrating our wedding date is to us. We want to be focused on just each other, the same way it was 27 years ago.

1st anniversary

See, we hear about married couples all the time who just acknowledge their wedding anniversary. No celebration. No gift. No meal. No flowers. No card even. Just sad. But your Dad and I wanted to make sure we remembered that it was that wedding date that we solemnly promised our Father we would be together throughout this lifetime. And we wanted to make sure we celebrated it big. Sometimes we would even get each other a special gift, but not always, because our trip away was our gift to each other.

When you kids were little, we might only be able to get out for a fancy meal, show or one night away. But any chance we got, we would get a sitter and disappear to be together. As you got older we tried to get away for a couple of days. And we made memories in Door County, the Smoky Mountains, the Caribbean, state parks, gardens, Mackinac Island and most recently various gulf coast beaches. We wanted you and Anton to know that after God, we came first to each other.

18th anniversary

Something else we have always done when we went on these trips was search for a church. We would renew our wedding vows before God in these hallowed places to reaffirm what we promised that wedding day. And you know we've had vow renewal ceremonies twice at both our 15th and 25th anniversaries.

Next year, your Daddy and I are taking an anniversary trip to Anna Maria Island in Florida where we plan on watching you both exchange vows. We pray this date becomes as special and beautiful for you both as it has been for us and that you will take time, make time, to make it important, holy and honored every single year. That means taking off work, prioritizing and, in the future, leaving the kids at home.

By the way, when you both head off on your honeymoon next year, don't be surprised if we also sneak off afterwards to be alone. It's our anniversary after all.

13th anniversary

Discussion: What are some ways you can keep your wedding date special in future years? How would you like to celebrate?

Prayer: Father, we know that special dates and celebrations are holy to you, as you have set specific feasts and celebrations throughout Scripture (Lev. 23:44). Thank you that we can remember this holy day as well, a time when you joined us as one. We love you so much and thank you for each other. We pray Rob and Ayla will remember to honor their wedding date, vows and each other every single year in some special way. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Seek Ye First

364 more days to go! Sounds like forever doesn't it? But honestly, it will go by so quickly, so truly enjoy each day of preparation. And for that matter enjoy each day for what it is.

Recently a friend said to me, "If you're depressed, you're worried about the past. If you're anxious, you're worried about the future. Be comfortable and live in the present. You only have today." She's absolutely right, and we need reminded of it often. You will experience many times in in your relationship where you will be worried about something: time, money, health, an argument. But our Father tells us not to worry. His exact words through Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 starting in verse 25: 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

My darlings, you cannot change the past, so don't worry about it. Learn from it. You have no clue what the future holds, so just leave it in the perfectly capable hands of the Father. But you are responsible for today and every decision you make. As I said to your brother recently: "Be faithful, be obedient, and you will be fine." 

If something comes up that instantly starts to worry you, we have two pieces of advice. Firstly, whisper the name of Jesus repeatedly. It will center you immediately and you'll feel a peace almost instantly. Secondly, give it to God. Go in prayer and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Knowing you have given it to Him, rest assured you are covered.

"Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present," so delight in it. Make a memory. Learn something new. Meet a person's need. And glorify God through it all.

Discussion: What are some worries you both have that you can take to God in prayer this day?

Prayer: Almighty Creator, how at rest we can be knowing you have time in your hands. We relinquish this day to you and ask for your Holy Spirit nudgings to know where you need us to be and what you want us to do. Father, we uplift our concerns for the future to you, asking for your help and guidance and knowing in faith, you've got this. We love you, Lord. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.