Covenantstrong.org

There are moments in marriage that don’t come with a date or a calendar reminder — moments that slip in quietly, so softly you almost miss them. But later, when you look back, you realize:  This was the moment my heart understood what my vows meant. For me, it happened early in our marriage after we decided to approach marriage differently, God's way. James was sitting on the couch, tired from the day, yet peaceful. James is always the calm that is a steady anchor to my sometimes stormy intensity.  I remember watching him for a moment, not as the friend I once confided in, and not even as the husband I was learning to navigate… but as the man God was using to teach me about love, marriage, and patience. We both were learning that marriage was something sacred. Not  me  and  him, but us . The edges of our individual lives were beginning to blend. No, things were not perfect, far from it, but it was evident that God was weaving us together thread by thread, breath...

Long before I knew I loved James, I trusted him completely. I enjoyed our friendship. I enjoyed how James made me feel accepted and emotionally safe any time I was in his presence. Looking back, I realize that love had its eyes on me long before the room turned dark on the dance floor that opened my heart to new possibilities. And maybe that’s why this part of our story still feels like a  miracle to me… because sometimes the greatest gifts are wrapped in seasons we never expected. It felt easy, safe, and familiar. James and I had created a rhythm built on years of small conversations about everything, nothing was off limits. We talked about our love of music, life, disappointments, family and faith. All of those shared lunches had somehow stitched our hearts closer together without either of us noticing. There’s a sweetness in knowing we didn’t rush into romance.  We grew  into love.  We were friends and then one day, without warning, the friend I leaned on became t...