The Greatest Love.

It can be easy to say that I have been surrounded by beauty and joy over these last couple of weeks.

Me and my Bridal Party about to go get hitched!

It's true. I am married, I am joyful and I have been consumed and overwhelmed by Jesus and His truths and promises on my life. To bring me to these places and these faces and to be put into my Husband, Austins, life and he in mine.

 "4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...
13And these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

With not even 2 weeks into this new season I have already been approached by so many people asking me what I think about being married. What it's like and once I respond with joy and thanksgiving... There is a sensed response of... well, "The Honeymoon phase." I understand where people are coming from... But the perspective I've gained is interesting. Within our American Culture there is a lot of dispossing. There is a lot of breaking and replacing. The sense that is gained when asked "How marriage is" and upon my answer given has somewhat reminded me of when I first came to know Jesus Christ my Lord.

Lets begin with Testimonies, shall we? No one person has the same finger print. Like our finger prints our stories may seem similar but for the most part they are unlike anothers story, journey, and path. My testimony doesn't start off pretty. I didn't surrender my life to Jesus until I was 23. A lot of things that lead up to my further understanding of Jesus' relentless pursuit for his daughter.

I first encountered the hesitence in the questions people would ask me about my journey wish Jesus and ask me about my testimony. When I would open up many would giggle and say, "Ohhhhh, that's wonderful... You're in the Honeymoon phase of your faith"...

 Guys I don't get it...

People would explain to me that I was in a very exciting and easy part of my faith and that soon that feeling would fade and the trials would begin. Not for one moment do I agree with that point of view. Who ever said life would be easy? I really would love to meet the person who said it would be. Jesus said it wouldn't be easy but that it would be worth it.

"11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully even as I am fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

In the culture of fads and continual replacement, I am so excited, honored, joyful and thankful for my husband. Already with in the first week and a half I have struggled with change but the truest thing is that I have my best friend by my side. Trials ahead semi-known and stepping into it all. A Honeymoon is more than just having a great time and bliss. In fact the entire true point of a Honeymoon is to connect on a completely more intimate personal level as two become one and we seek to transition together. and that phase continues for the rest of our lives. 

The difference in all of this is that I am choosing to seek joy and the blessing of my husband daily. Not seeing all of this as something that is "bound to fade and reality kicks in"...

I love being married and I love being married to my best friend and I love not setting boundries and getting to wake up next to him and getting to organize the meshing of our messy lives into one amazing journey together.

I love him. I love him because God gave me the ability to love in the first place. And I choose to love my husband, my other half.

Photo cred: Megan Lee Photography

-Keep Adventuring.