Becoming One

     This past weekend, we made a trip to see our Son and his family in order to celebrate his birthday. Trips like this are always a blessing since we spend time with family.  On the way home from having our dinner out, our Grandson Aiden asked everyone to tell a story about an embarrassing event that happened to us.  I started out by relaying an event that took place early in our marriage when my husband and I went on a camping trip to Canada to see his father and two of his friends who went fishing.  We rented a VW camper which was perfect for the two of us.  At the time, we lived in Ohio so the trip was a two day trek.

Our beautiful family

     Being tired when we arrived and getting used to cooking on a tiny stove in the camper was a real challenge for me.  I do not remember what started it, but somehow my husband and I got into a disagreement.  I was upset and attempting to fry a steak at the same time while arguing with my hubby.  When it was done, I put it on a plate and set the plate on a chair so I had room to cook another.  At some point during the argument, I decided to sit down and promptly sat on the steak.  This brought gales of laughter from my dear husband after he saw what I did.  Of course, I burst into tears of embarrassment and when I went to reach for a tissue, a black jumping spider popped up making me cry even harder since it frightened me.  Well, my husband took me in his arms and comforted me, and we both started laughing at the whole incident.  To be honest, I cannot remember a thing about the argument....only the laughter over what I had done.  This was just an early adventure in our learning to become one in Christ.
     Next week, we will celebrate 48 years that we have been married.  It seems like only yesterday that we said our vows to one another.  Four children, 21 years of home educating them and 11 grandchildren later, we have grown together as we have served the Lord, but marriage is not easy.  It takes effort (100% on both sides), commitment, loyalty and faithfulness in order to mirror the love of Christ towards His church.
     Jesus was asked about divorce by the Pharisees.  It was common in his time and even more so in today's world.  In Mark 10:2-9, this discussion took place: " 2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,a 8and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  Matthew 5:32 expands on this.  "But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."  This was a high standard that the Lord set, but God's standards are much different from ours.  His plan has been to use the family as a means of bringing godly image bearers into this world who will witness for His glory and honor.
     Today, however, we see gender bending, and all sorts of distortions to God's plan according to His Word...the Bible.  This is our authority for living, marriage and raising our children, and Jesus made it plain to the Pharisees.  Is it easy to be married?  Can it last?  I would answer that by asking another question, "Can we do anything in this life and succeed without God?"  Certainly, He has to be at the center of any marriage.  He gives the strength, courage,
and ability to hold two people together.  He, alone, has the wisdom to help us raise children, and if we want them to be fulfilled in life, we must teach them about Christ according to the Bible. We cannot be blown about by every wind of doctrine that the world concocts as acceptable.  There is only one standard by which we can find real peace.
     I remember asking my mother if her love towards my father had changed since they were married.  She wisely answered that yes, it had. She told me it was deeper than ever before.  The thrills and chills stage had passed but the loving, abiding more meaningful love had come.  I believe this is what the Lord desires for us to grow in, but without Christ at the center, it would not be possible.  He is the glue that keeps marriage together.  He helps us when we are up to our ears in dirty diapers and a sink full of dishes all the way to the end of our days here on earth.  Two becoming one is an incredible journey when Christ is in the middle.  Selah!