Glad to be home

Being at T4G was spiritually refreshing, physically relaxing, and powerfully convicting. With all that said I really missed Jen. We will have been married 14 years this August and I am constantly amazed at how much closer we become with each passing year.

I remember wondering as a young man in my late teens and early 20’s how it was possible to love someone for life. Sure my parents did and my Grandparents did but they're supposed to. They are “old people” and that’s what “old people do” as if the love and commitment they exhibit today was present from day one of their marriage. This is not the case of course as I have learned. Marriage is tough work. You take 2 sinful, selfish (me more so in this case) people and make them live together under the same roof and then add kids to the mix and you have just created a challenge that surpasses even the most difficult reality TV show, but there is one factor, or should I say person, that makes all the difference; God. 

I have found that we have grown much together during the times when all the hinge pins were well oiled and working together but some of the greatest and most significant growth we experienced as a couple and the growth I experienced personally, occurred during those times when we were hanging on by that one single pin that is our Lord. These proved to be the greatest tests of my love for Him and for Jen and I found that on the other side of these tests, when the other pins were back in working order they functioned even better than before. Now after 13+ years of this “cycle” I have found that I love her more than ever and I cannot imagine how strong my love for my wife will be if the Lord grants us another 14 years together.

So while the conference was an absolutely amazing experience, I am glad to be home with the love of my life.

Comments

[Shawn Rineholt]

Amen Brother!
My wife and I are ready to celebrate 12 years together on August 3rd. And I will say that We have had our share of hardship and desperation (at times placing too much trust on the wrong hinge pins) but have now a greater love and appreciation for each other and most importantly for our dear LORD and savior Jesus Christ. We realize that He truly is the Blessed Tie That Binds!
A favorite group of mine Caedman's Call put it this way:

Looking back at the road so far
The journey’s left its share of scars
mostly from leaving the narrow and straight

Looking back it is clear to me
That a man is more than the sum of his deeds
and how you’ve made good of this mess I’ve made
is a profound mystery

Looking back you know you had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I questioned the sky, now I see why
Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love

Looking back I can finally see (I’d rather have wisdom)
How failures bring humility (than be)
Brings me to my knees (a comfortable fool)
Helps me see my need for thee
~Amen~
We plan to celebrate our Love for each other and commitment to the Lord by renewing our vows on our 12th anniversary this year!