Patience and Grace

Since Hannah has been here, about 4:00 P.M. yesterday, I have spent more money overall than the entire month.  I bought an outfit from work, which I was probably going to anyway but she helped to confirm it.  Then, knowing that are time to actually be alone to talk would be limited, due to me living at the BICS dorm and Hannah having a good friend who lives down here, I decided that we should go on a date.  Both transactions I think were good, especially the date.  We don't ever go on dates.  It was really nice to just sit down, order a pizza, talk about whatever, laugh together, and enjoy one another's company.

The hardest part comes when we have to say goodnight.  My mind is thinking about how much I just want to spend all my time with her but I know I can't.  She must go to the girl's side of the dorm and I must go to the guys.  It's hard to have patience.  Our entire relationship has been built upon distance.  I (I think Hannah would agree) am ready for a change.  I am ready to start building our lives together when we are close in proximity.  The two becoming one process will be a big adjustment for us once we are married because we have never known what it's like to spend more than four days, at the most, together.  We have both agreed that it will take patience and grace in that transition.

I enjoy her company, her friendship, and her smile.  I know we aren't perfect people but I enjoy being together.  When I'm feeling down, she always has a word of encouragement.  When she is feeling down, I try my best to do the same and to pray for her.  God has been so good to us.  To call us into His family is more than good enough but He also brought us together.  It's hard to determine where sovereignty and the self-will come together but there is no doubt, we didn't establish this relationship on our own.  I can't wait to hear the words, "What God has joined together, let no man separate." (Mark 10:9) 

Although, we both know that the foundation we have for our relationship is Christ himself, his death and resurrection.  We are not married yet but our foundation for our individual lives and our relationship is the same foundation for marriage.  Christ died for our sins that so that we could be forgiven by God for being His enemies.  We are adopted into the family of families.  Christ set the foundation of the church, his followers.  He didn't forsake it, he never quit.  He died on the cross, rose again and is coming back for us.  He didn't leave us.  He could have but He loved us so much He gave up His very life for us.  That amazes me everyday.  That is the foundation we are building on.  That is where our hope and faith is.  If we are going to have a successful marriage, it is because God showed His grace by sending His son to die, the perfect sacrifice, so that He might gather His people together once for eternity.  It's all about His glory.  It's His story...not ours.

Reading:
This Momentary Marriage- John Piper