Jill Scott says, "There's just ME, one is the magic number"; we say, "there's just WE, one is the magic number". Two becoming one is a magical mystery that reveals God's majesty. Ephesians 5:32, says "This mystery is profound..." As we celebrate each anniversary, we look at each other and are amazed at the power and profoundness of the mystery of our love for one another. We acknowledge that our ability to "bear all things, believe all things, and endure all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7) throughout this journey is a mystery in which God is the center.
The authors of the Love Dare remind us that God has many purposes for marriage:
1) To eliminate loneliness through companionship,
2) To multiply our effectiveness through teamwork,
3) To mature us into Christlikeness,
4) To guard our purity through sexual fulfillment,
5) To grow families through procreation, and
6) To bring about the enjoyment of walking in love and oneness.
But, we must always remember that God's ultimate purpose for marriage is a hidden mystery that is greater than all of these combined.
(A side bar regarding #3) One of the purposes for marriage is to mature us. Our challenges are intended to strengthen and grow us as individuals and as couples. Our mates see, call out, reflect, and expose our flaws at times, but this is to grow us into the Christians we are destined to be. Let's not be defensive, let's grow/mature.
We will celebrate 14 years married this year and 16 years together. We are more in love today than we ever imagined we could be- and we know that this is a miracleJ, but more importantly we know that our love is a mystery revealing God's majesty!
Yours in Christ,
Sherman and Paula Newman