Sunday, July 20, 2014

Once upon a Time


 

Today started out as a regular day.  Upon waking I took the pups outside to do their business.  Ordinarily I am in a hurry but since it was Saturday and a little later than usual I decided to take my time.  As I roamed the backyard I took in the beautiful clear morning.  For the past couple of days I had done nothing but rush here and there.  I was tired of rushing.  I just wanted to stand still and breathe in the nice fresh air.

In the distance there were birds singing and the sounds of people doing yard work.  Then there were the strains of angry voices rising above all. 

The voices rose above the sounds of the weed whacker and I was immediately thrust back in time.  Twenty five years ran down the drain as I was frozen in place my ears picking up a full blown once upon a time.  Angry frustrated pitched voices rising higher and higher.  The words were ugly and hurtful.  I found myself flinching with each unkind word hurled at the other.

As I was caught up in the moment I found myself rooted to the ground.  Although I still could not detect where these voices were originating from I suddenly realized did I really want to know?  With a deep breath I looked up and uttered a small prayer of thanksgiving.  God had taken me out of that pit so long ago and I was forever grateful.  Today I pray for that married couple as they had hurled such unkind, cruel and wounding words.  These are words that can never be taken back.  Words that can cut a person to the quick as well as crush a spirit.

While I know it was so long ago for that brief moment it was as though it were only yesterday.  I turned and looked at my house with a smile.  This was my life now.  My life was now with a kind Christian man that cherishes me and would never blindly hurl cruelty in my direction.  Sure, we’ve had our ups and downs but that’s married life.  But we strive to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday.  Marriage is giving 100 percent.  It is not a 50 – 50 deal.  It’s the only way it will work.  You give 100 percent of yourself and you will reap the benefits.  You also need to trust God.  A marriage needs to be firmly planted on The Rock.  That Rock being Jesus Christ.  Once you do this, everything else is gravy.  I am not saying it will be perfect.  Nothing is, but once you understand God’s love your life will only become richer because of it.

So today, as I pen this distant memory of my once upon a time I reflect but only for a moment.  I thank God for bringing me out of the fire and into His wondrous light.  And I also pray for that unknown couple.  I pray that God shows them the way and heals their hearts from all of those cutting words that I am sure they didn’t mean as only He can!