The other day I was at the dentist office which is honestly not my favorite place to be. The dental chair is very uncomfortable and I usually don’t feel well the rest of the day. BUT…I have a fabulous dentist and hygienist and the office is incredible for our entire family so it makes the task of getting my teeth cleaned…a very important to-do for a busy mom whose teeth come after everyone else’s…much easier! One of the things I love most about our dentist office besides how warm and cozy it is…both in appearance and company…is the fantastic music selection. Every time I go I hear great music…and I am picky! Wednesday was no different.
I was sitting there with my mouth open trying to answer my hygienist’s questions and engage in catch-up conversation, however awkward with her hands in my mouth, and all of a sudden a new song started. In just 2 notes by an acoustic guitar it’s as if I was transferred back to 17 and 1998. My senior year of high school. The fraction of the very first measure of a song took me to another place and time. A time when I was in love, with the same guy I am still in love with today no doubt though a younger version, but at that time it was a new love…a naive love of sorts…a “you think you know but you have no idea” kind of love…but real nonetheless. A time when everything was perfect. The biggest problem we had was “are you coming over tonight or I am coming to your house?” Ah the joy of being blissfully unaware that real problems and struggles actually exist. And for a split second I missed it.
Thinking about that time of my life even for just a few minutes felt like a gift. To remember those wistful times and vividly recall all the hope and excitement we had for the future. The memories seemed so recent…like they happened just a few years ago when in actuality it was more like 13 years ago. So much has happened since then. When the song was done I was brought back to reality and couldn’t help but think about how far we’ve come and the things we’ve gone through. The things that Christ carried us through even though in the thick of it we didn’t necessarily realize it. It is because of God’s grace that two high school sweethearts can be so in love and “on the same page” in our faith walk and in raising our children today. Back then we had no clue what God had in store for us…just as we don’t know what tomorrow, or next week, or next year will bring. The beauty of it is that He has shown us that we can trust Him with everything…even the unknown.
Someone once told me that marriage is like a rose. For every beautiful blossom there are thorns. Those thorns are there to make us stronger and protect us. But if your roots are firmly planted in Christ, there is no thorn you cannot overcome. I believe this with all of my heart because I’ve lived it. Last night some girls from our small group got together and we talked about how we as wives can focus on the good things about our husbands and not bring up the past. It is human nature after all to focus on the negative. From my perspective I am really glad my husband doesn’t ever bring up the past because I want him to think about the positive things about me…not all the negative that once consumed me. Even if I missed 17 and 1998…I would never want to literally go back and re-live all of the treacherous times…though I feel blessed to have gone through it. But in my mind, I am grateful to remember those carefree days….before struggle, before heartache, before cavities…because it makes me appreciate how far God has brought us, how He has protected us, and how we know we can trust Him.
Wonders of HIS Love 