cohosting with Nat from Take the Cannoli today!
be sure to stop by and read her Story too!
TO READ MORE ABOUT this series, click HERE.
ok, tiny spiel before my actual story: i’ve been reading Angie Smith’s book- Mended and it’s been preaching to me, sisters! one thing that has stuck out and affirms my convictions for us all to share our Story no matter it’s seeming importance, is the section in her book where she reflects on a passage from a book about St. Francis of Assisi called “Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale.”
“Do you know the story of Rabbi Zusya?” he asked
“He was a Chasidic master who lived in the 1700′s. One day he said, “When I get to the heavenly court, God will not ask me, Why weren’t you Moses? Rather he will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?” (2006)
God’s only asking us to share His story in our lives. whatever that looks like for you–huge, shocking, amazing or mundane, if He’s writing it, it’s important.
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we were fresh out of college–you know the ones who thought they could do anything, be anything, so “grown-up” and sure,—-standing at an intersection with so many choices and exciting opportunities for which way our lives would turn out.
i chose “move across the county, 6oo miles away from all the friends and family i ever knew.”
he chose “ask her to marry you.”
on the hillside of a mountain,
overlooking the blue ridge’s beauty,
on a gloriously sunny saturday morning—i said yes.
we were so sure and thought we knew each other so well. i mean, we had dated (who cares if it was long distance) for two years, for goodness sake. what else could we possibly discover that we didn’t already know about each other? {enter sarcasm} we were happy, dare i say, “giddy,” and anxious to see what God had planned for our little family.
*this was taken right after the proposal. the tree farm gave us a free wreath in celebration*
7 years later…….
we went to that same exact proposal spot with our two beautiful kids, a marriage that has its moments of struggle, but overall, one that is better than ever. we looked back at that young, bright-eyed couple and we thanked our God for granting us this life we have now—boogers, fights, long hours at work and all. we thanked Him for allowing us to know each other SO much better and deeper than we did back then and for our desires to know Him more as well.
i guess the whole thing just has me reflecting on the way we can know someone and then we can Know someone. it’s kind of remarkable the gift God gives us in a marriage partner, if you think about it. someone who will get to Know every dirty, ugly part of your life–every sin you struggle with and can’t seem to rid–every unmake-up’d face, every unkind word, every sickness, every pain and yet still choose to love you. will they do that perfectly? no, only the Lord can, but i don’t know about you, there aren’t many people in this world who Know me like that. it’s a gift and i’m thankful.
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<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thehollierogue.com/category/tell-your-story/" title="The Hollie Rogue" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7127/8167428313_179e1da51d_b.jpg" alt="tell your story new" alt="The Hollie Rogue" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
A small story to share about milestone of my blogging
thanks for sharing your journey, Priya!
I love this post. What a special thing to take your kids back to the spot where you first decided to start a family together.
Its so great to reflect on what God has done and is doing. I agree with you. What a strong love it is when two people KNOW each other, the good, the bad, the ugly, the unexpected, the tired, the giddy, the worrier, the out-of-control, the stubborn, the faithless….you get the picture…when two people KNOW each other that way, and still in a way only a human can (with God’s grace) look into each other’s eyes and still LOVE. Its so much more precious now after 26 years of ups and downs and much more KNOWING of one another. Do we have all the answers now? No way….not like we thought we did way back there in our early years when we had so many plans and dreams of the way it would go. All I know is God is in control, He is sovereign, and He LOVES us, has from the very start, KNOWING us as we really are and KNOWING what we would become and what was ahead for our lives together. This brings me great comfort and hope, especially in our times of struggle and disappointment. The good times definitely bring light to the hard times though! Thanks for sharing your journey, Andi! Love reading your blog! LOVE you!
you have such a beautiful family Hollie and what a beautiful story to share. sometimes i wonder if there is anything else that my husband can know about me, but it seems like every so often we find something new. not big like skeletons or nothing like that, but just the other day i realized he doesn’t like carrots raw, just cooked!! and i’ve been married almost 11 years!! haha.
This story made me actually a little sad, but in probably a selfish way. I just went through a breakup like, two days ago, from a man I thought I was going to marry. I thought the Holy Spirit had guided us together, we talked about the future, etc. How I long for someone to know me like a husband knows his wife. So, I loved reading your story, but it made my heart hurt a little bit, ya know?
Thank you for co-hosting, I’m so excited to have linked up with you. I hope you have a moment to come over and read my story as well — I’m like you, I have so much to share, but God is opening my heart a little bit at a time.
Hugs!
Gayle from graceforgayle.blogspot.com
oh, I’m so sorry to hear about your breakup and so sorry that this post added to your pain. know, sister, that God has someone for you and that He loves you and views you as complete and perfect with or without a man by your side. He knows the desires of your heart and if you continue to seek Him, you will be seeking His will for you. Many prayers and hugs to you, friend. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.
What a beautiful family Andi! I love how God’s plans far exceed our own. Praying for your family and always hugs!