Mile-Marker: Sweet 16

Next week Cliff and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage.
A hard won 16 years in some respects.  A sweet victory to be sure.


We met 18 years ago while attending William Carey College (now University).  I was a sophomore.  He was a transferring Junior.  I was giving a talk at the Baptist Student Union the first weekend of school.  He was listening.  He came to me at the end and said, "Can I give you a hug?  I love you!"  I should have thought he was weird.  I thought he was cute.


A couple of months later he called to ask me out on a date.  Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, but that's what it was: a date.  December 11, 1994.  If he wants to contest the date, he can write his own blog!  A year later we were engaged.  A year after that we were married.  November 23, 1996.  He won't contest that.  Our first kiss was our wedding kiss.  Yes, our first kiss.

Saints Superbowl Season

Your Kiss

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. Song of Solomon 1:2

The first one was gentle and timid,

pregnant with promise--

Promises kept and promises to come.

The veil was lifted

And two hearts were joined to one future.

The second one was quick and stolen;

Charged with exhileration--

We were sustained by the electricity around us.

Wrapped in lace and pearls,

It was a gift between new lovers.

The third one was long and sensuous;

Teeming with new life,

It gave birth to our new passion.

Like waters drenching the earth,

This kiss brought forth all that is now familiar.

The next one will be sure and sweet,

Abundant with memories and possibilities.

Whether speaking hello or goodbye,

It will say one thing:

I love you.

If marriage is meant more for our holiness than our happiness, then I am doubly blessed.  I have the privilege of doing life with a man who cares about my holiness and my happiness.  Cliff is my best friend, my theology buddy, my sweet date, the guy in my dreams.  Cliff isn't perfect, but that just means he doesn't expect me to be perfect either.  He is on my team, he is for me, my biggest fan.  He lets me shine and never relishes outshining me.  He receives my fears, my dreams, my frustrations, my hopes, my weaknesses, and my strengths with grace. I trust that I come into his presence forgiven; I promise that he comes into my presence forgiven.   He is the most loving, thoughtful, playful, affectionate, strong, protective, directing, smart, funny, kind, forgiving Daddy any little boy or girl could want.  He sings songs of love over us.  We, our children and I, know that we can venture into the world in the direction of God's voice with the confidence that this man is on our team. He is our hero. Of course, we share him with people who love him too. He is fiercely faithful to his family...loving his grandmother, praying for his cousins, being a son his parents are proud of.  It is the joy of my life to minister beside him.  His compassion, sense of justice, passion for Jesus, and love for God's True Word inspires me constantly.  I love to hear the words of praise people offer as they encounter Jesus in Cliff.  Cliff, I love you.  I like you.  I choose you.  I am completely yours.  Happy Anniversary.

Easter 2012