23 years!

That’s how long Anthony and I have been married now.

Has it been easy? Absolutely not.

Has it been hard? Not entirely.

Has it involved choosing each other, over and over again, every single day for the past 20-plus years.

100% yes, yes, YES!

As we recently celebrated our anniversary together, Anthony and I spent some intentional time looking back, reminiscing, and truly seeing how every day offered us a choice.

Leave or stay?

Lash out or listen?

Nitpick or encourage?

Hold a grudge or forgive?

Assert demands or offer solutions?

Be critical or kind?

The list of daily choices was seemingly endless. (And no, we certainly didn’t soar through every choice over the years with victory.)

Boil the choices down, though, and the bottom line was love.

Coming from two broken people who opted to give marriage a shot for a second time, this learning curve was crucial.

Culture was against us.

Statistics gave us little hope.

Our pasts assailed our minds and dogged us relentlessly.

(But have you ever noticed that when the odds are not quite in your favor, Jesus most certainly is?!)

It helped immensely to have an Advocate in our corner who gently reminded us on a daily basis to love.

God not only continually encouraged us forward but gave us the best example of what it looked like to choose someone and love them sacrificially.

“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” (Jeremiah 1:5 CSB)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16 CSB)

“We love because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19 NIV)

God’s example of choosing and loving us first brought us this far and definitely inspires us every day as Anthony and I continue to journey through life side by side.

Is it easy? Not completely.

Is it hard? Not entirely.

It is worth it? 100% yes, yes, YES!!

Until next time, Grace and Glory!