This week "Girltalk" gave some advice to brides...but the advice was so precious, so true and such a sweet reminder that I couldn't help but echo it and share it here:
"Several weeks before each of her daughters got married, Mom took us away for a mother-daughter overnight. She wanted to have one final conversation before giving us away to our husbands.
Her counsel was simple: give yourself freely, passionately, completely to your husband.
The essence of our conversation is included in Mom’s book, Feminine Appeal:
“Marital sex is the pinnacle of human bonding. It is the highest form of the communication of love—a language that expresses love without words. It calls for the deepest, most powerful emotions. It creates intimacy within marriage like nothing else. In fact, as we give and receive the gift of lovemaking, this intimacy will grow stronger and more precious as the years go by. Each encounter will lead us to a deeper ‘knowing’ of the one we love.”
Sex “creates intimacy like nothing else.” All the shared joys and trials, all the deep and meaningful communication, certainly contribute to marital intimacy, but no experience can match the deep, inexplicable closeness that comes from a loving physical union within the confines of marriage.
“It’s a mystery,” I remember Mom saying. And so it is. This intimacy, this "knowing" that results from the physical relationship is beyond my ability to describe in words (although Solomon do so eloquently in his Song).
What I do know is that while I share fellowship and labors, joys and trials with many others, sex is something I share only with my husband. It’s our own little world, closed to all. Not even the dearest friend or family member can enter. We are on a journey, the two of us. An exclusive journey. A journey of love. We are creating memories known only to us. Secrets only we share.
The further we go on this journey, the bond between us grows more powerful and intense. The "knowing" grows deeper. The love grows sweeter.
Ten years after that conversation, I have to say--Mom, you were right."
Bryan picked a rose off of our rose bush and put it in a vase above the sink. A great spot as I seem to be there a lot each day!:) As I watched the rose bloom and open up more and more each day I couldn't help but think of the Girltalk post and how much marriage is like a rose. A rose is beautiful...even when it is closed and not yet bloomed. But, as it begins to open up more and more, it's beauty grows and it's fragrance is released. Marriage is beautiful from day one...but, there is much about it that is still "closed"...because there is much about us that is still uncertain, yes...even selfish and that is still learning to trust and open up fully to the one we have promised our lives too.
With each passing year, by the grace of God and only if we have eyes fixed on HIM and are putting Him first, our marriages become sweeter...they become more open, honest, selfless...they begin to release a fragrance that makes the first day pale in comparison to day 4,530! Is it still, at times, hard? YES! Does it still take a LOT of work? YES! Do we have to work at even liking each other sometimes? YES! Is it worth it? A THOUSAND TIMES YES! What plan of God was ever NOT worth it?!!!
As with anything...we must keep sowing seeds of the fruits of the Spirit as we renew our minds with God's Word, stretching our marriage muscles through reading godly books on marriage and listening to godly preachers,praying for and with each other, preaching to ourselves when we want to listen to ourselves and complain...and, trust that we WILL reap a harvest if we do not give up!
And just in case you need a point in the right direction for "material"...here are some of our favorites :):
1)When Sinners Say I Do by David Harvey (number one pick!!!)
2)Sweethearts for a Lifetime by Wayne and Carol Mack
3)The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
4)The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott
5)Tying the Knot Tighter by Martha Peace and John Crotts (starting this one Monday!)
I'll share my excitement about one more resource on prayer in a separate blog. It's too good to go at the end of this post! Stayed tuned...and, above all, stay in HIS presence...for in His presence there is FULLNESS OF JOY and at His right hand are PLEASURES FOREVERMORE...into eternity and,right now, in our marriages,too!!!!
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
-Anne Bradstreet
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