Devotional: October 2008

Marriage

I received an email from a friend several weeks back.  She had saved the very last email newsletter I had sent as a member of The Campbells (I was with them for ten years starting at the age of 15), dated July 29, 2005: the day before Matthew and I married.  As I read it, I found myself reliving that day writing that email with tears streaming down my face, and also learning from some of the things I wrote!  I decided to make that email this month’s devotional.  I hope this blast from the past is a blessing to you!  Here it is…

Marriage.  Hmmmmm…..The commencement of this thing that most of us have looked forward to all of our lives has got to be the most wonderful and frightening feeling ever. It is the day before the wedding and I decided to get away for awhile and write my final email to you as a member of The Campbells. Technically, I am already unemployed, but I still have the password to the email so I guess it’s OK if I write one more time!

Over these last ten years, I have learned so very much in my life. We’ve been through many things as a group that have strengthened our faith and sharpened our walk with the Lord. There are a few very important lessons I have learned that stand out to me. First, going through the mountains and valleys of life does not make us better people. It’s how we handle them that increases our faith, builds our character, makes us more like the Savior. Second, no matter how many times you fall or get knocked down, God can give you the strength to get back up again. Proverbs says a just man falls seven times and gets back up again. It doesn’t say that if you’re a good Christian, you’ll never fall. It says that when you do fall, you need to get up again. Don’t ever stay down. That’s not where God intended you to be. Lastly, life is so very short. It certainly doesn’t seem like over ten years I’ve been with The Campbells! It doesn’t seem possible that I’m now closer to thirty than twenty! It seems like just yesterday Matthew and I were thinking the wedding would never get here and now we’re thinking, “Are we ready for this?” It goes by so fast. In light of eternity our few moments here are but a drop in the bucket. It’s not about you, it’s not about me. It’s about Him. If we can keep our eyes focused toward the goal, toward heaven and eternity, life’s biggest mountains all of a sudden don’t seem so ominous any more. The valleys don’t seem as dark. Don’t forget that.

Of course, I know I’m not dying, just leaving this ministry, but if I could be remembered for anything, I would want it to be that my ministry reflected Him. That people could see Jesus in me. I hope that will become more so in the months and years to come.

It’s not an end, but the beginning of a new journey. I ask that you pray for The Campbells as well as Matthew and I. God has got things great in store for us, not because we deserve it, but because He’s God and He takes pleasure in being good to us. What a thought! Keep loving Jesus, my friends. It’s worth it. God bless.

Because of Grace,

Sonya