My husband, Lee, returned home this weekend from traveling for several days on the other side of the world for business.  To say I missed him is an understatement.  The fact is that I didn’t sleep well any of the nights that he was gone.  Yawn.

I think my subconscious knew that I was in charge and that I would have to chase the monsters away in the middle of the night.  It was a humbling experience to realize how much I rely on the love of my life to protect and comfort me.

Plus, I’m such a weenie!  I have no desire to walk around with a baseball bat in hand to see what that bump in the dark was!!!  I’d much rather hide under the covers and pray the boogie man goes away.  Not very effective…especially when two little boys have already stolen your spot!

Considering we celebrated 19 years of marriage yesterday, it feels like a lifetime since I regularly had to sleep alone and fend for myself.  For that I am forever grateful!!  I’m happy to leave the boogie man banishing to Lee!!

God made us to be in relationships with one another.  He didn’t say it was going to be easy (yes, I checked).  In fact, scripture says it’s going to be hard.  WHAT?!?!  Say it ain’t so!!!

…But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 1Corinthians 7:28

YIKES!

However, God says multiple times that He will be our guide and help us through EVERYTHING we face…good, bad and ugly.

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

God was definitely looking out for me when He chose my life partner.  He knew exactly what I needed and gave me the greatest gift of my life…a great man with an even better heart.

Of course, there are times when I’m sure Lee would like nothing better than to rip my head off and vice versa, but God has given us the tools and the help that we’ve needed to get through each and every mountain and valley.

There isn’t another person in this world I would rather spend all of my days with and being together has made me stronger, more patient, kinder, less judgmental, happier and more loved than I’ve ever been in my life.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

So, how have I been married to the same man for 19 years and still have a smile on my face?

Prayer is the No. 1 thing that I think that has made our marriage work and last.  I know I have prayed often (hee, hee), but I also know that others have prayed for us.

In addition, our faith and trust in God’s leading has pushed us through the roughest of times and given us joy on our best days!!  Having God in our lives has kept us together when we selfishly would have given when the going got tough.

I encourage you to pray for everyone you know who is married.  Living life together is not easy and prayer is a gift that could have lasting effects.

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 19:14 – House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.