Learning Who Comes First

A couple of weeks from now will mark the 29th "date-iversary" for me & my wonderful husband.  I've been thinking back on the past 29 years with this wonderful man, and sometimes I wonder how in the world we made it to "29".  And I really don't mean to sound so blunt about it, but ... 

I had just turned 19 & he was an "old man" of 21 ... 

we knew who each other was, yet hadn't spoken one word to each other until a couple of months before our first date ...

then after only 8 months of dating, we eloped.
 

The newlyweds ... 28 1/2  years ago

So, here we are 29 years later ... 

parents of our awesome daughter & son-in-law both of whom we are 
so very proud of ... 
grandparents of the 2 most amazing kids on the face of the planet (to us anyway) ... 

we've come a long way since September 24, 1983

One of the turning points in our marriage came when we had been married for several years and yet we knew that something was missing.  We were involved in our church, our daughter's school activities, both our work places, traveling to keep relationships with our out-of-state families ... 

yet something was missing

But, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Matthew 6:33

As parents and grandparents, I think all of us want (or should want) our kids & grandkids to not have to go through some of the same struggles/conflict/crises that we went through.  Yet, this is THE one verse that brought our marriage into focus for my husband & me. 

We asked ourselves & each other "Are we seeking God's kingdom & will or are we just all about ourselves?"  That can be a tough question to ask when a young couple is setting out to make a living for their family.  Yet, it's probably the most important question to ask.  You see, when Grandad & I turned our thinking process from "this is what I/we want for our family"  to "is this what God wants for our family" ... 

then things started changing ... 

our husband/wife relationship grew & matured stronger with each passing day (love, respect, admiration, support, encouragement ...)

our family values changed with our daughter which led into values that she would carry into her marriage & her family

our church involvements became clearer with where God wanted us to serve Him & work for Him (and it also meant moving to various ministries as He would direct)

our whole outlook on work, success, money, our future security ... everything became for His glory & His credit

Everything about our family was given over to Him.  As a young couple who started dating 29 years ago, we did not have a clue as to what we were in store for ... 
but God did.  
The old saying holds true "If I only knew then what I know now" ... 
but thank God for His grace & mercy that brings us back to Him when we have put Him on the back burner of our lives.  Yes, we have experienced ups & downs, good times & trying times, successes & failures since seeking His will first.  He never promised life would be without it's challenges, but seeking first the glory of God ...  placing Him first in every aspect of our lives ... 

has given this not-as-young-as-we-were-back-then couple 
purpose ... peace ... perspective
in our marriage
in our family
in every aspect of our lives.

If there's just one piece of value that "Grandad & Granny" can pass on to our following generations, it would be from this red letter promise ... 

in everything they do, 
seek God first.

Then everything else will come from His glory.
 
So, here we come upon our 29th date-iversary
a little older ... 
 a little wiser ...
a whole lot richer in God's blessings.

Us with two of our greatest blessings