7 Years Later

Yesterday was my 7 year wedding anniversary. The strange thing is, other than knowing it was my anniversary, it really was just a normal ordinary day. Nothing unusual or special. I cleaned, organized, took care of the baby, cooked, and read... But the calendar date marked something special. Crazy how 7 years ago, I had so many feelings on this day, and today, everything is just normal.

We've had such warm weather lately that I have been in flip flops or barefoot all the time (I only wear shoes as a safety precaution... Otherwise, I'd probably be barefoot all the time and wouldn't even own shoes). Anyway... When I was in the shower last night I had to spend a special amount of time scrubbing my feet... They were so dirty. 

I thought back to the night before my wedding day, sitting on the floor of the shower for probably 20 minutes scrubbing the blackness off of my feet. We had a foot washing as part of our wedding ceremony and I knew everyone was going to see my feet, and I wanted them clean. It was weird thinking that was 7 years ago. I guess not too much has changed...my feet are still dirty, haha.

​Looking back over the last 7 years, I ask myself, "Am I where I thought I would be?" Had you asked me 7 years ago today, "Where do you see yourself in 7 years?" I would have told a much different story than what my life ended up being. But, in hindsight... I wouldn't change a thing. I probably would have said we'd live in a comfortable home in Michigan with a dog and at least 3 kids... We don't. We live in a little apartment in New York, with a cat, and our son.

I think if anyone predicts their life, they look back years later and see how differently things turned out. I used to think I had the perfect story written for myself, and that nothing in life could be better. I went through years of feeling discontentment, because I had to wait on so many things. Who likes waiting? Honestly? I still don't like waiting, but I have learned so many things from waiting that I have grown to appreciate those moments.

I think about my years of waiting to be a mom. I would never want to go through it again, obviously, but I'm glad it was a part of my life. Strange how joyful things in life can be taken for granted and forgotten quickly, but the difficult things, we can become ever-thankful for years later. I never thought I would be thankful for that difficulty...I wanted to be, but I didn't know if it were possible.

The Lord works all things to His glory. Not to say that the Lord takes all situations and finds a way to make them good... But he intends all things for His glory. Earlier in my marriage, I know I believed differently. I believed that God was not sovereign over this...not completely. I believed that He didn't intend it for me. I believed God had a plan, and that He could change things if He wanted to. My beliefs were inconsistent, and left me feeling exhausted, confused, and depressed. Today, I believe that God was sovereign over all of it...both for my good and for His glory. God has been glorified in my life over the last 7 years, not by anything I have done, but by what He has done in me.

Today I thank the Lord for trials during my 7 years of marriage. He has brought me out stronger. My prayer is that I face the challenges that I know will come over the next 7 years, with greater strength because of the ways the Lord has already equipped His servant. Here's to the next 7 years! May God be more glorified in me on my 14th anniversary than He is today!