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To the One I Love on Our Anniversary

Steven,

Tomorrow as we celebrate our marriage of five years, it is not lost on me that the Biblical meaning of the number five is grace. We have each been the giver and the recipient of grace these past five years.

Photo by Renee Daughtry 
💕 We have walked through the valley deep and we have walked every inch of our neighborhood a hundred times over.

💖 We have soared on the mountain tops reaching new heights in our relationship with each other and we strive every day for new heights in our relationship with Jesus.

💘 We have cried tears of joy and tears of anguish.

💗 We have enjoyed those deep belly laughs, and we have laughed nervously in some uncomfortable situations.

💝 We have stubbornly sat in silence because there was nothing left to say, and we have reveled in the peaceful silence that comes at nightfall when the house is still.

💕 We have been so angry we did not speak for hours, but from the first time we spoke on the phone, we have always been able to talk as old friends do chatting about everything and nothing at all.

💖 We have danced in silliness, intimacy, and in worship.

💘 We have trudged through some muddy waters, but we are still standing. For every high and for every low and for all the in-between, there has been much grace.

I am so thankful for you and the love that we share and for all the trials we have been through together. Yes, there were some hard, uncertain times, but there have been some amazing, effortless, fairy tale days, too.

There are three scriptures that I believe define our marriage in a most unique way. They are not the typical, happy-anniversary-greeting-card scriptures; however, I do not believe there are any scriptures to better describe us now and where we are headed as we continue our journey together.

The first scripture is found in Luke 7:47 in which Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” I love this scripture because we have forgiven and have been forgiven much; therefore, we love much.

The second scripture is how I have seen our relationship evolve from when we were practically strangers with our own goals and expectations. Now I see us as “…agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” Philippians 2:2

Finally, the third scripture is one that describes our marital destiny. Jeremiah wrote, “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8) I see us in a place of strength with deep roots that sustain us. Through every season, our love flourishes and does not wither. We remain standing as one with strong roots and beautiful blooms.

I love you, Steven Laughlin. 💗

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