In the last two weeks, I’ve had the privilege to officiate two weddings for two couples that I absolutely think the world of.  Its humbling to serve a couple in that capacity when you’ve had a front row seat to their relationship…when you feel like you’re a part of their story and they are a part of yours.

Weddings are a lot of work for the preacher guy, but its because I take them so seriously.  I love doing pre-marital counseling with couples I marry because their wedding is only one day, but their marriage is a lifetime…its my chance to speak into that journey.  Its naive to think that I know everything about marriage in my short 10 years of experience.  Its naive to think that 6 or 7 pre-marital counseling sessions will provide all the formulas for a healthy marriage.  But through meeting with couples for counseling, I have the opporunity to speak into their relationship lessons I’ve learned before they make the second most important decision of their lives…Can I marry this person? Can I spend the rest of my life with this person?

Every time I ask young couples to make vows…I’m reminded of the covenant I’ve made with my wife.  Its a reminder that I’ve made a promise to my wife to lead her, love her, protect her, and provide for her…to never quit on her…to never quit on us…to never quit on Jesus.  To give her my best, because no one else should get my best.  To be faithful to her and only to her.  To be with her for richer, poorer, through sickness, health, joys, sorrows…come what may, we are in this together no matter what.

Marriage is hard.  It takes a lot of work.  But it is so worth it.

I’m so thankful for my Crystal.  She loves me when I am unemployed.  She encourages me when I feel defeated.  She defends me when other people speak poorly of me.  She forgives me when I make mistakes.  She loves me when other people don’t like me.  She believes in me when other people don’t believe in me.  And no matter where we go from here, I know we’ll go there together…no matter what.