Proposal Anniversary~ 17 Roses for 17 Years

I received a large bouquet of roses in February in honour of the day that my dearest and I officially began our journey of being lifetime soulmates when he proposed to me. I hardly look like the beautiful bride of 17 years ago- six births have taken a toll on my body. But my darling husband has always made me feel like that bride he married all those many years ago.

 Daily, he treats me with love, kindness and respect. Our marriage is a piece of heaven on earth and I am truly so thankful to God for His merciful provision to me. Our children see that papa and mama love each other and that makes them want to follow our example of love. They respect our date night and do not clamour to go out with us. They know that papa and mama need that alone time with each other, and it is a blessing that the older ones will manage the dinner plans and care for the younger ones while we are out. 

A strong marriage is the foundation of a strong family. It is sad to see all the love, focus and attention turn to the children the moment they are born and the husband and wife relationship gets relegated to a lower priority. When my pastor taught us that the marriage is more important, I used to think but what about the children?!? They and their needs are so all consuming, how on earth does a wife minister *first* to her husband? Wives are to be a helpmeet to their husbands. Read it Genesis. That has never changed in God's economy of things.  

We care for the children and thereby fulfil our role as being helpers for our husbands but that is but one aspect of the job, not the whole job. We need to meet our husband's needs physical, emotional, sexual needs- this is our privilege if we are to be called the woman of his life. Love and honour him, if not someone else might take your place. I am not saying this out of insecurity but just looking around at marriages that are on the rocks and even broken, oftentimes it boils down to neglect and unmet needs. 

Love your spouse generously! It is an expression of your love for Christ. 

Ephesians 5:22-33

 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

³³ Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.