My Beloved Siestas,
Today is Keith’s and my twenty-ninth anniversary and my mind has been awhirl all day long. I wanted to share a few things that are on my heart because many of you are married and more than a handful of you could probably use some encouragement. I’ve had such a sweet day but, strangely, not with Keith. He’s out of town – yes, again – but don’t feel too sorry for me. I am a well-loved woman and he and I will celebrate plenty when he gets home. And, anyway, this is what I get for scheduling our wedding day during the best part of hunting season. I was with him out of town until last night and he’ll be home in a few days.
In many ways, it’s appropriate for me to occasionally spend my wedding anniversary alone with Jesus. After all, this day is as much about He and me as Keith and me. Two more messed up people have never converged into one household. Talk about the double portion of dysfunction. Neither one of us were strong people. Neither one of us had our head together. We absolutely did not have what it took. God alone did it. He required a whole lot out of us a whole lot of times but He alone could have empowered us to give it. The rest was just a stinkin’ miracle.
I think Jesus just wanted me to spend this day in deliberate grateful reflection about His part in my marriage. Conspicuously, none of the people I usually sit with were at church this morning. All my young girl friends were out of town and many of the families that I usually sit near were also in absentia today. I have many loved ones in that worship service so, certainly, I could have gotten up and taken a seat by any number of people but, by that time, I was onto what I believed God wanted from me. He wanted me all to Himself…and after I got it, I was tenderly flattered. I sat alone, worshipped alone, listened to the sermon alone, then had lunch alone. And, except for a few minutes when Melissa came by, have spent the day alone. But so very much un-alone. I had an invisible Date for my wedding anniversary. One who wanted to remind me that He’s the only reason why I’ll have a visible date in a few days (late). One gray at the temples and tan and weathered of skin, but just as handsome as the day I married him. And a whole lot sweeter. I like him better these days. He does me, too.
Some of the things God has taught Keith and me are not for public consumption. Others are meant to be shared. These are a handful of things God has helped us practice along the way that led up to this particular day:
*We try more often to live by the law of kindness. In the old days, we’d figure out one another’s weakness then aim that direction with arrows of harsh words on purpose. Most of the time these days, we avoid the targets that we know good and well are the other’s Achilles’ heel. We just don’t like to be mean much anymore.
*We snuggle a lot. We have a big, long couch in our den but a whole lot of times we sit in the leather chair that’s almost not big enough for one hind end. Let alone two. Or three when Beanie gets jealous.
*We still talk a lot – over coffee, walking dogs, or bubble baths – and try to be interested in the other one’s world even when we don’t get it one iota. When you have a mix like Beth the Librarian and Keith the Barbarian, you have to try extra hard.
*We’ve had to choose to put stuff behind us. We have had no few problems, no few differences, and no few conflicts and, if we wanted to keep a record of wrongs, we could have a list long enough to trip over for the rest of our lives. Neither one of us thinks highly of letting the other run all over us nor is either of us likely to keep an opinion to ourselves. We still fight. But then we get on with living and make a choice not keep punishing each other with yesterday’s stuff. Life’s too short and a house too small. You have to forgive – and be forgiven – a ton.
*We just keep going. This isn’t going to sound profound but it’s actually one of the biggest things God has used to turn a rocky start into twenty-nine years. We just kept getting through the night till the sun would come up and we’d made it another day. Before we knew it, the next anniversary rolled around. And we’d be so glad. And little by little, we just got happier and happier. Hard times have always come calling but so have good times. God just gave us the wherewithal not to quit before the next sweet season came. Oh, that He’d continue to.
I am so tender to those of you who have endured the pain of divorce and I plead with you not to let this entry invite you to destructive feelings of condemnation or failure. I know how hard marriage can be. I know what a miracle it takes at times and how willing both parties have to be to receive it. But, with your blessing and your security in Christ, I also need to be able to say to those who may be on the edge of giving up, please, I beg you, don’t. Just make it through the night and see the sun come up tomorrow morning from your knees. Fight your battles ferociously with your face to the floor. Give God time and room. Wives, quit being the husband. Fire yourself. Let God take it over. Get counseling if you need it – even if your man won’t – but don’t quit. Even if you don’t love him…or like him. Even if you hate him. God can soften a heart of granite if you’ll let Him. Wait it out a little longer. Laugh a little harder. Snuggle a little tighter. Love by faith. Not just by sight. As the Apostle Paul says, all that matters is faith expressing itself through love.
Yep. Some anniversaries are more about God and you than your spouse and you. Like this one. Gotta go. My cell phone’s ringing and it better be Keith.
Or he’s had it.
***Beth and Keith***
Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves so freely. This anniversary is a special one.
After reading your blog today,I jumped up and went into kiss the scruffy face of my man. I apologized to him, He made some offense and in front of our 17 yrs. old son~that hurt.
But, forgiving and moving in positive kindnesses with him grows us . We are 2.5 years into remarriage, and boy is it tough. (December 12 was a full 20 years ) I have choosen to believe God daily for this marriage,these 3 young men we are raising, and all the rest. I cannot control any of it~
You don’t know it but, those Bible Studies God wrote through you have changed my marriage and me. Desperately I have learned to seek My Father for my family and constant reconciliation. What I want is a restored family. I want happy smiling boys to know their parents and grandparents love them. I want the love of my husband-just one husband. I have hurt him so deeply, but he has forgiven me,today is an easy day for kindness in our house. Gratefully we will have many more.
My family likes the loving mom and wife I have been learning to become. I do to.
I hear the boys in the kitchen dishing up the Carroll Shelby chili … time to go and join them. Can I tell you how happy I am to be the one making it for them and then getting to enjoy it with them. Makes me cry just to think how gracious God has been to allow me back into their lives.
Beth, thank you for your words today. Thank you and Happy Anniversary to you and your man Keith.
Giget
Romans 12:2
…”Be transformed by the renewing of your minds”
My hub and I have been married for 21 years. When asked how to stay together so long, the best answer I can come up with is “don’t get divorced”. Sure, I’ve hated him. Several times. But if you stick it out, it always (Praise God!) gets better again.
Congratulations.
Blessings to you and Keith on your Anniversary (even if I am a day late wishing them) 🙂 And Thanksgiving to God for your marriage and alL HE has done for the two of you.
Your words encouraged me to refect on my own marriage… and how blessed I am to have the man God gave me. Through all the good times, the storms, joy, heartache – the one constant has been our Lord. Jesus is our rock! My parents divorced when I was in 5th grade – and I told God, that when He brought me my man – I would fight for my marriage and He, me and my future husband would make a great team! As the plaque on the guestroom wall says Marriage takes more than for a man and woman to meet, it takes God to make it complete!
Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your married life –
Enjoy your celebration!
Mrs. Beth! We share the SAME wedding anniversary! Although, we celebrated our ONE year! Ain’t that just a blessing! Congrats to you and your precious Keith!
Love,
Jen (the newlywed)
Beth,
I loved your post and I love you too! My husband and I have been married for 17 years. Oh no, marriage isn’t easy but I can’t imagine navigating throught this thing called life without him. We’ve had rocky times too. I’ve thought about your post all day and this thought keeps crossing my mind: Only God can take a rocky marriage and make it into a rock star marriage! There’s no one like our Rock!
We can’t wait until San Antonio in 2008!
Joyfully,
Kristi
As someone who is married to a man who proposed in April and then said, “We can either get married before hunting season or after”, I totally get the hunting on your anniversary thing.
Happy 29th Anniversary. Thanks for the encouragement.
By the way, we got married in August. No way was I waiting until February!
Beth,
Your gentle reflection of your day at church and your marriage was wonderful to read. Congratulations to all the 29 years of marriage. Though single it was gently on my soul to read. Happy New Year! I like your last comment about Keith…cute!
Allison
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BETH AND KEITH!
Also, thanks for the reminders that we can look for something special from God during those times when we are separated from our husbands. I pray a special blessing to all of our siestas whose spouses in the military are so far away and missing anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. God bless and keep all of you!
Love,
Kristen
Beth, Happy 29th to you and your man! My story is way to long to write but boy oh boy it’s a doozy! One thing that is sure, is God’s faithfulness! I’m very thankful for the 18 years God has given me and my wonderful husband! We are both divorced both had unfaithful spouses and God brought us together and has blessed us so much! But it sure wasn’t always easy not by a country mile! We both love the Lord and our committment to Him and to each other is stronger than any problem we’ve faced so far!
Just a reminder to us all, each day is a gift from God…don’t sweat the small stuff! My cousin just found out before Christmas that his precious wife and mother of their daughter is full of cancer and probably won’t live past this next year! They are 51~life is short and tomorrow is not guarenteed. Hug and kiss your sweetie each night and be thankful for him and we wives need to be what we need to be for them. It is so easy to put the focus on our needs and get self centered! That is from the enemy! Love to you all!
Twenty-one years ago tonight, my husband asked me to marry him.
Fast forward 10 years, we had both decided that it was time to quit. On that very day, our 7 month old daughter was placed in ICU with a serious heart arrythmia. For the life of me, I can’t remember the arguments or “issues” that led up to our decision to call it quits, only that we needed each other to get through that first night in ICU with our new baby.
You’re right, Beth, when you say you have to sometimes just “get through the night”.
Last October, I truly accepted the lord of Lord and king of Kings into my heart – 20 years after first “accepting” Jesus Christ as my Savior. I’ve told my husband many times, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d walked away from me – but he didn’t. He stayed “through many nights” and I believe he ain’t gonna go nowhere now! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Beth.
Julie
My Beloved Siestas, your comments reflect the exact reasons why I love you so. Your honesty, your concern, your desire to please and pursue Christ even in the messy realities of life, and your prayers for one another touch me deeply. Dear Sisters who articulated painful circumstances, I joined the rest of your Siestas in lifting you up before our faithful Father. Keep believing Him to do the impossible. You are so precious to Him and He knows the plan. I am also so grateful to God for the tender comments of those who have endured divorce. You were so gracious and loving. May our God astound you with His faithfulness and do for you more than you could have asked or imagined. I love all of you so much.
beth
🙂 I just celebrated my 18th, and at one point in life, didn’t think we would ever see 8, must less 18! I celebrate with you what God can do with two people (dysfunctional) to change, empower, and grow them, mold them for His Glory and for our blessing! A Blessed New year to You, Beth Moore, and many thanks for loving Him, serving Him, in both word and deed. lOVE, a sister in Christ…. Cindy
Beth,
As I read through the comments, I see that I’m not the only one God spoke to through your post. On the recognition of your anniversary, your words showing God’s will for our marriages hit me like a brick wall. Just this morning, I thought “I don’t know how much more I can take”. And the sad thing is, it’s little things. Sure, we have our struggles. But why don’t I see how our Lord is with us? I let Satan play that “you could do better” game with my head. Not that I want to…it’s that “I’m much more in tune with life” junk my head is filled with.
As I praise the Lord for your marriage, I also vow to begin this year praising the Lord for the wonderful man he brought into my life 20 years ago this August. It’s no small feat that brought us together…and it’s forever until I vow to “stand by my man”.
I am so encouraged as I read your words and reflect on my own marriage! Thank you for always pointing to Him!!! Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for sharing…we all need marital encouragment now and again…
Praise Jesus for all those years and many more, Lord willing.
Beth–
Seven years ago, my husband and I chose Psalm 118 for our wedding’s theme Scripture, just because we liked vs 23–“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Over the last few years, we have come to realize the fullness of what that verse really refers to. Just before vs. 23, the Psalm says: the stone that the builders rejected has now become the Chief Cornerstone!
After a huge battle with the enemy of our souls (satan is my enemy; my husband is my husband–never confuse the two!), that passage is really what God has done in our marriage! Jesus is now the chief Cornerstone! Hallelujah!
Along with the godly example of my two precious parents; Emerson Eggerich’s “Love & Respect”–a must-read for any of you siestas “in the thick of it”; and an article by John Piper called: How to Pray for the Soul–yours or another’s; your books, Beth, have helped me live at the “faithful” end of two extramarital affairs over the last 18 months and have given me the courage to live by true faith in God’s promises as I’ve watched God restore my marriage, improve it a thousand-fold, set my husband FREE, and teach me that while God has created me to be my husband’s helpmeet–my real worth and identity is to be found in Christ alone…and to teach me how to climb a mountain and see Him in all His glory!
Thank you for reminding me of our mighty God who “Is Who He says He is…!” Every morning, I would wake up and picture you toting a rock exclaiming, “Thus far, the Lord has helped me!” And–thanks for helping me, sis, even in the middle of great pain, to climb “out of that pit!”
We really had to stretch our Christmas gift funds this year (like 25 gifts for $100), so my husband used Liquid Nails to attach 12 river rocks in a circle around a glass candle pedestal. We gave it to my parents for Christmas with a quote from “Believing God” about Gilgal and a note thanking them for being living stones of remembrance for us…never have I seen my mother cry so–especially over a $3 gift! So, your ministry has blessed my life in many ways–both tangible and intangible, and for that, I praise our Lord Jesus!
Keep on, dear Sister! And, happy, happy wedding anniversary!
wow! thanks for sharing. we have been married for 15yrs….not perfect, not horrible, not easy. but i too love him more today than years ago.
“Even if you hate him. God can soften a heart of granite if you’ll let Him.”
I can testify to this exact thing happening in my marriage. Luke and I had filed for divorce and were one week away from it being final. I went to bed one night hating my husband with my entire being and awoke so desperate for a reconciliation I could scarce breathe. If you ask me how I KNOW God can turn a heart of stone I will always point you to that moment in my marriage. I found later many prayers were being offered on our behalf on that very night.
We weren’t born again then, but soon after God saved us both and called my husband to ministry. He has been a pastor for 14 of our 18years now so girls, there is hope! 🙂
Much love to you Beth..thanks for sharing this…
Happy Anniversary and Happy New Year!
Lisa
Thanks for this message…it was a blessing.
As a single, I feel I am doubly blessed to rely on and fall in love with Jesus in a special way. I’ve had married friends with children say, “You never quite understand the love of God until you have a child of your own”. In the past, I would (in my mind) want to be bitter or hurt, but actually they have a point. In some ways, I won’t know that aspect of love from God in the same way they do. I can’t, I don’t have the same experience.
Conversly, they will never know the aspect of total reliance on Jesus, as my husband, that I feel and know on a daily basis, because they can’t know it…they have a spouse with “skin on”! And that will always be somewhat of a hindrance.
Actually, I love these illustrations, as they show us all how much God loves us right where we are at, and how He totally wants us to know Him, and many times that knowing is based on a dim reflection we know as a human relationship. Isn’t God good to all of us siestas, married or not?…parents or not? I love it when HE makes us family and from such a large variety of species and rolls! YEAH!
Happy anniversary!
(We just celebrated #16 on the 27th…gotta love those red and green weddings!)
Yep, it takes a miracle to make marriage work–and it’s a miracle Toben and I are married today. In the midst of huge crisis, we actually sat down and decided it would be best to call it quits. But somehow, nothing progressed past that conversation and we’re still married. God indeed!
Much love to you both!
Joanne
Beth, I have been married for 3 months. God waited until I was 36 to bring His perfect choice for my life. It has been a wonderful blessing so far and I pray God will continue to bless my marriage to Juan! Thank you for being so transparent about your marriage and your life.
Kristi in Dublin, California
Congratulations! So much wisdom shared in this post. My husband and I are more in love today than when we married 31 years ago – but wow the middle 20 years were rocky! If it weren’t for Jesus, we would have been divorced a dozen times. But then we would have missed the sweetest years together. I keep praying that the Lord will grant us at least another 20 years – that would make my husband 80 and me 73 – hard to imagine. I thank Him for every day we have now.
Thanks for being so transparent. It’s one of the things that I love about you. May the Lord pour out a fresh anointing upon you, your family and staff in this New Year!
With love and gratitude,
Jennifer
You’re a sweet, precious sister, Beth and I admire you and appreciate all the ways the Lord teaches me through so many of the things He teaches you. I was one of your “Raleigh Girls” and am so PUMPED that I received “Stepping Up” as one of my Christmas presents this year. I’m just getting started and can’t wait to share with you what He’s got for me on this journey. Love you!
I sit here on New Year’s Eve reading this entry with tears in my eyes. Thank you, Beth. This came right on time. I had a big blow out (seems like a common thing anymore) with my husband today. We have been having a hard time and I keep thinking about how much I don’t want to be with him anymore. But, reading your entry encouraged me to keep pressing on and to cling to Jesus and believe, in faith, that He is working all things for good in my marriage. Thanks, Beth!
AMEN!
Happy Anniversary!
Love to you and Keith! Have a wonderful date when he
returns!
Beth, as I read your post I was watching the ball drop ringing in the New Year alone because my husband gave up on us almost 5 months ago. I spent the first couple weeks after he left screaming at the Lord and begging him to fix things. The funny thing was that I thought that meant fixing my husband, but the Lord had other plans. The Lord got me back in church after being absent from him and the church for almost a year and drew me into him. He told me to get on my knees and after arguing with him for several minutes I finally bent down to get on my knees out of obedience. Before my knees hit the floor I heard the sweetest words I have ever heard in my life…”I have not forsaken you!” I have not looked back since that day. Today has been a hard day for me, but something the Lord has reminded me is that the time I have spent with Him since my husband left is not wasted time. He has anointed me with a gift for teaching and is developing that everyday. His word has opened up to me in ways I never imagined. God is so wonderful, even when things seem overwhelming. I have known that there was a big calling on my life for some time now, but he has told me enough running, step into your place now! God gave me a word about my husband the other day that blew me away and for any woman out there that my be discouraged because of a separation the Lord told me “my sheep know my voice!” My husband is saved, but is lost and God told me do not worry about him because He is the great Shepard and he is going after that stray sheep! Do not lose faith just read Hebrews 11 and keep praying to all of you facing a separation.
Beth,
Happy Anniversary! My Keith and I celebrated 22 years this year. I so relate to your “hunting” man, because mine comes from a long line of them and has turned our youngest son into a savage as well. lol
I, too, wanted a December wedding. My soon-to-be father-in-law politely informed me: “Sugar, you can have that Christmas wedding. But, I WON’T be there. That’s smack dab in the middle of dog hunting, girl!” We married in June.
Thanks for the post on marriage – everyone who is single or engaged or struggling in a young marriage absolutely needs to know it isn’t about a Cinderella fairy tale – it’s just plain hard work. But, if in our hearts, we know without a doubt God brought us together, it’s so worth the ride. Keep on ministering, Beth; you are loved and needed by so many of us.
When I got married in 1988 I remember my father saying, “Honey, why don’t you try letting him be the man.” I will never forget those words…that marriage ended in divorce in 1997.
Praise God I have Jesus in my marriage to my husband Paul. It is still a struggle to take hold of the reins…but I’d much rather give them to my Lord now.
Happy Anniversary, Joanne
I don’t know how I missed this post, but I hope you get this before you move on to the next entry. What an amazing post. My passion in life is to minister to people in the area of marriage. What hit me so tenderly as I read your post was about how the day was as much about God as you and Keith. After all, Jesus is the one we are betrothed to as the church. He knows more about marriage in every facet than we could ever know. It is the relationship that He may understand better than any other because it is so intimate on so many levels the way He wants to be intimate with the church.
I would also encourage people to keep fighting for their marriages. My heart aches most for those marriages where only one person is a believer. It is only through God’s protection that I am married to the Christian man I am married to and we were both plenty messed up by the time we met each other at 24 in a variety of ways. I guess that is why I have shared with you in the past in other posts, Beth, why I am such a believer in the church doing all it can to help people plan in their hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits for their wedding day years before God ever puts that person He has planned for you in your path.
I was just doing your bible study tonight, Beth. The one on God’s Dwelling Place: A Woman’s Heart. Just like you spent your anniversary with Jesus, I spent part of my New Year’s Eve (before my kids went to bed and my husband and I could spend time together) curled up with your study guide and pouring over Exodus and Hebrews and Dueteronomy and I didn’t feel like I was missing a thing. I wouldn’t have traded it for any New Year’s Eve party on the face of the earth (am I getting old):)?
As I was doing the lessons (I was behind lessons with my bible study group the past couple months because I homeschool one of my kids), I reached the part in one of them where you were discussing how Christ always provides the open door for us not to sin and it vexed me because I understand completely with what scripture says on this matter on one level, but I also realize that it isn’t as simple as one individual just being perfect enough not to sin. I believe that the church (Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in us) is sometimes that open door to someone else not sinning. The church needs to help people have the strongest marriages they can possibly have and some of the ways we can help is to get them to a place where they get the way God really sees their marriage…how holy and sacred and set apart it is in the eyes of God. You understand that because otherwise spending the day with Jesus yesterday wouldn’t have felt so right to you, but not everyone gets that yet.
The best place to start is for our young people to get how holy their future marriage is before they walk in to it damaged. Don’t get me wrong..God can make something really sweet out of something really damaged, but it isn’t the churches job to tell the body of Christ to go damage themselves and that something good will come out of it. We need to be pouring out prayers of intercession for every marriage and asking Christ to intercede with all His might on the behalf of all marriages (present and future) and we need to be holding marriage up in the highest of esteem. We need to be telling young people that any little games they play just to feel good at the moment will come back to haunt their marriage and that those games just aren’t worth the healing it will take to move past them. It is hard for me to say all of this knowing that sometimes people are more sensitive because of those “field trips” they have gone on (as you put it), but like I said, it isn’t the church’s job to send people on painful premarital or marital field trips. That is only God’s job when things have gotten to a place where learning a hard lesson is all that is left.
I feel for every word you wrote and I wish you and Keith the sweetest anniversary celebration when he gets back. I so know what you mean about things getting sweeter as the years go on. I look at my husband now completely differently than I did when I was in the earlier more distracted years where I just took it all for granted and had moved past the newness of it all. God can set a heart on fire again. It is just something that we need to pray in to every marriage and especially in to those marriages where there is one hurting man or woman that has found themselves a believer while their spouse is not yet one.
In His Love,
Caroline Kirkpatrick
Happy Anniversary!!!
Happy 2008!!!!
Oh mama Beth! I have just spent the last two hours reading all of our siestas comments. I am at a loss for words. One thing that rang true throughout the comments was that God is forever FAITHFUL. What a lesson He has been teaching me and my man this past year. My heart and prayers go out to all the dear siestas who are hurting. God is wrapping his comforting arms around you and he LOVES you dearly. Thank you Beth for sharing…you always are obedient to the Spirit and He teaches us no matter what you share.
I love you, You are Amazing Mama Beth.
Kate in Charlottesville
Happy Anniversary, Beth. Thank you so much for the encouragement. My man and I have been married for 15 years. Six years ago we had our twins. At the time, we had an 18 month old, and a 3 1/2 year old. It was crazy and stressful. During the madness, somethings happened in my marriage I never expected. I remember trying to nag and “counsel” him back to righteousness. Finally, I hit my knees and “fought it out in the heavenlies”. Not only did God change my husband, but he changed me. I quit talking and God did the work. I still pray ferevently that Satan does not get another foothold, and that our marriage can bear much fruit. Thanks again for being real, and blessings for 29 “moore”.
Happy Anniversary Keith and Beth!
When we were MYA at HFBC, Cecila Talley was my teacher for a couple of years. She would ask us thought provoking questions from time to time. One I remember was, “what was your happiest time in your life?” She wouldn’t let us answer when we accepted Jesus or when we got married because she explained, we had no idea what we were getting into with either one of those decisions.
MYA was a hard time for us, because we were struggling to stay married and eveyone looked like they had it all together. We couldn’t understand why we couldn’t keep it together. Little did we know, we were all struggling.
God did a great work there at HFBC with all us then young ones.
Have the best fun ever as you all celebrate.
Happy Anniversary! Thanks for that wonderful post. You know I think more people struggle with marriage than I think. It is hard when two selfish people come together as one. I know first hand and barely got through some of our years yet what you said is such wisdom. Don’t give up-I love how you said that in the last paragraph specifically. Thanks for that. People need to hear it desperately and He has given you the charge. I praise Him for that. Lifting prayer for you.
Much love,
Angela
Thank you for encouraging this girl in Michigan to appreciate the fact that it is all about me and God! Without God I simply could not be married for 5 more minutes! I am NOT kidding! Happy, happy Anniversary! I can’t wait to see how you celebrate next year!!!!!
Much love to you, sweet Beth! I can’t wait to see you in August at the Siesta Fiesta!!!!!!
Angie xoxo
Happy Anaverssery Beth and Keith! I love you!
God is so wonderful, He has healed our marriage too. We barely made it to 10 years but after we both totally committed our lives to Christ about 4 years ago we have made it to 16 years. As long as we keep Christ the center of our lives and marriage He keeps us growing in Him and our marriage growing stronger.
Thanks for being so honest with everyone. It is so helpful in my Christian walk.
Happy Anniversary, Beth and Keith !!! What a blessing from God your post is today. =)
My parents have been married for
47-1/2 years now, and although neither one of them is in the best of health [Dad has Leukemia, and Mom has several serious lung diseases, and is on oxygen 24/7], and yet they still love one another so deeply.
I will never forget when my Dad helped me drive from Wisconsin back to Houston, where I lived at the time in 2001, and, although we had a very nice time alone together on our drive down together, and he got to meet some of my friends down there, about 4 days later, he was so “homesick”, as he just wanted to be with my Mom, the love of his life. And, I thought that it was so sweet …
However, their marriage has also has hit many “rough spots”, but by the grace of God, now neither one of them wants to live without the other one …
Happy New Year to all of Y’all ! And, many more years of joy in Y’all’s marriage, as well.
In Christ’s mercy and grace,
Love you,
Jennifer O.
Southern Wisconsin
Happy “Belated” Anniversary my dear Siesta Beth and also to your man, Keith. May our Lord grace you with his “gift” of many more God-filled years together. Much love from your Siesta in Lathrop, Missouri!!
I too know that my marriage has lasted only because God is a part of it. Not because of anything we’ve done! I was touched by all the Siesta’s comments as well and prayed for those of you who are struggling. And encouraged by those of you who’s marriages have only gotten sweeter over the years. Loved the crochet doll story! Can’t crochet…I’ll just have to stick a dollar in a box…hehe!
Happy Anniversary Beth & Keith!!
Kathleen
Beth,
Happy Anniversary!!!! How cool! December 30 is also my wedding anniversary (our 18th this year!). Thank you for your encouragement. Truly, God’s grace is shown most clearly in my marriage. There is certainly nothing in my past to point to the miracles in my home today. God is so very good!!!
Beth,
I am so delighted I came upon your blog today. I was just sharing with a friend a story you wrote about how Satan was attaching your daughters (through their eyes of what they felt was a weight problem)and it really hit home for me and what one of my own children is dealing with. Not on the same subject but just as traumatic and horrific and we are fighting to save our child.
Finding your blog and your actual words of encouragement through your writings I believe will bless me this year as we continue to pray and fight for our child. God has blessed us so much and we pray that he will hear and answer our prayers and heal our child.
Congratulations on 29 years of marriage and the encouragement you are bringing to others through sharing your experiences.
Maybe there is hope. I want so much for my marriage to work. It seems like I spend more time on my knees than anywhere else – not an easy feat with a baby coming any day.
But the more I pray, the more angry my husband gets. He says I’m being condescending. I try to be the submissive wife everyone tells me I need to be, but I never seem to get it right.
I needed to be reminded that if I’m faithful, God will be faithful.
Oops, I was confused and thought this was Beth Moore’s blog, please forgive me. I will be back however as your posts are so encouraging!
Beth,
First of all CONGRATULATIONS on 29 years!!!!!!
Thank you for being so transparent with us! I praise God for how he speaks through you! How He uses you and what a willing servant you are.
I have to share with you, until a resent bout with incredibly painful kidney stones and a surgical procedure to remove them, I was sure my husband didn’t loved me or even like me and I wasn’t sure if I felt the same way. Anyway, my husband was so caring, so tender, so loving to me, that it made me ashamed I had doubted his love for me. It made me ashamed that I was doubting my love for him. God works in mysterious ways, and it seems strange to say but I am so grateful that God provided my husband the opportunity to show me his love. We have been married 17 1/2 years and I am looking forward to 29 years!!!! I am resolved to finding ways to show my love for my husband or at least find a way to spend more time with just him!
You and Keith are an inspiration! God Bless you and Have a Blessed New Year!
Linda
Congratulations on your 29th anniversary! You are three years behind me in age and in wedding anniversaries and in the birth of your firstborn, but in many ways you are the older–in godly wisdom and in godly living. You’ve been like a “big sister” to me through your Bible studies and even this blog. I am so grateful to God for you. He knew I needed someone with a similar background to model for me how to live in Christ on earth. I am such a literal-minded person and sometimes (okay, a lot of times) clueless when it comes to application. I’m so more often a Pharisee than not. But God is changing me, thank goodness, and I try to cooperate as I learn from Him through you.
Hello siestas. If anyone reads all the way to the bottom here, I am wondering if there is anyone out there who has struggled with a Christian husband who does not want children.
God has been incredibly faithful to me all along in being my rock, and I love my husband dearly and God has caused so much growth in both of us, but I struggle so often with loving him in spite of his disdain for children (which he did not have when we were first married)and trying not to focus on this but instead to trust the Lord. But if anyone has gone through this, whether they ended up having children or not, I would so appreciate your advice. This road feels very lonely most of the time as I don’t personally know any other Christian women who are facing ,or have faced, this issue (I have even “googled” the topic endlessly and can’t find any resources that talk about it). Thank you and I am praying for all of our marriages.
[email protected]
(PS, I know this isn’t a message board, Amanda, so if you don’t feel it is appropriate to post that, I totally understand. 🙂 ).
This was timely in a different way for me. It helped me feel blessed by my husband and proud of my marriage, taking the focus away from more concerning relationships in my life.
Congratulations, dear Beth and Keith, and thank you for sharing.
xo
Chris
Congratulations on 29 years!!!
I will put our pile of dysfunction up against yours any day of the week! I will also put our marriage miracle on the alter with yours as sweet insence to the throne of God!
Our miracle is so fresh that tears are streaming down my cheeks. Dec 2005 I just knew things were over, and God brought me to my knees. He did a work on me that I can’t begin to express here. In 2006 He began on my husband (I think He knew that only one of us could be sifted at a time if we were going to make it!)
We stand ready to start 2008 as new creatures in Him, deader to our oldselves than we ever knew was possible. We will celebrate 12yrs together on the 20th of this month!! A true testimony to His saving loving mercy and grace!
Thank you for your example Beth, your bible studies have been no small part of all of it and my husband is a man’s man, I married a rogue, and he appreciates hearing the stories about your maveric, Keith, and how you both minister together so much. Thank you for your transperancy.
My paternal grandparents have been married for 60.5 years and my maternal grandparents would have been married 63 years on 12-30-07 if my granddad had not passed away years ago. My grandma still wears her wedding ring and has refused to re-marry or even consider another man for the past 21 years. My parents have been married nearly 40 years and MY Keith and I will be married 10 years this May. I’m so thankful for the faithfulness of “those who have gone before us”. I’ve been ready to give up on my marriage more times than I’ve been willing to stick with it. I’m very thankful that God has given me many examples of His will for marriage and I’m thankful that you have shared your story also. Thank you and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Happy Anniversary! What an encouragement to read the words you wrote and the pointers you gave. Yes–God through His Son Jesus is the reason my marriage to my husband for almost 20 years is still together. Like you and Lisa (the Preacher’s Wife) said I concur about the softening of the granite heart. I too can testify to a softened heart!
Happy New Year!
Blessings in Christ–