Joy

I have often thought that if we had not had Brooks so soon after we got married (he was born 15 months after we married) Rob and I probably would have killed one another. You see, when you're dating it's easy to put on a show and only let the other person see the "good" parts of you...and then you go home. Once you get married there's no where to go and that can be...challenging. Through the years we have had some knock down drag out fights. That's what I get for marrying someone who argues for a living! We would even argue when we agreed on things but just didn't like the way the other one communicated.

But somewhere along the way (maybe between child three and four) things changed.I realized that it's not Rob's job to make me happy. He could babysit the kids, bring me flowers every day, put his clothes in the laundry hamper, the list could go on and on but even if he did ALL of those things I would still find something more for him to do. It's only when I accepted him for who God made him to be and recognized the flaws in BOTH of us that I was able to find joy. Not because of Rob or me, we are both sinners and will never reach perfection, but because God chose to send Jesus to be our Redeemer and if Jesus can look past my flaws and see fit to save me then I can certainly look past Rob's flaws and have a long and happy marriage.

No one can make you happy your joy must come from your Savior.

Though the fig tree should not
blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my
salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength.....
Hb. 3:17-