twelve and a half years
It is this week 12,5 years ago that we said Yes officially and got married.
It was a couple of weeks before our wedding day that I was sitting at my desk, in my bedroom at my parents house.
That moment I realized that it was a big, beautiful, special time in where I definitely couldn’t oversee the promises I was going to make in those weeks.
While I was sitting there I asked God, what I just had read from Jim Elliot who wrote to his future wife Elisabeth:
“Lord, give us wisdom in our relationship and may we ALWAYS influence each other to a deeper relation with you, o Father.”
Then and there around twelve and a half year ago, I was drawn to Isiah 55.
“As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word, that goes out from my mouth;
It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for what I send it.”
Not very often did I feel the touch of the Holy Spirit moving me so deeply. It was long before Jelle and I were even thinking about being involved in mission. But, next to the promise, I was going to make that I would love to belong to Jelle, I also promised God, to be available in His Kingdom. Not knowing where it would bring us.
We had a beautiful journey so far. God has been so faithful in the past twelve and half years. We got our four beautiful children, moved to three different countries and are back home again. So many other things happened. And still… there are those times that I have been filled with doubt if our work or being makes any sense.
But than I draw myself back to that moment there at my desk. Being available before God who is in charge of the accomplishments and the purpose of his own Word. Again I realize what a beautiful moment it is. Promising Jelle to stand next to him each day is now a bit more clear than at that time. But still do we not know what the future holds for us. But what we know is that God has been a refuge from generation till generation and in that hope we stand..
(More family pictures here: http://jannekeonderweg.wordpress.com/gezinsfotos/ )
Congratulations on your twelve and a half-th anniversary! That anniversary is not recognized here, but I know in Holland it is a very special anniversary. Hopefully the first of many bigger anniversaries that you will celebrate together. Knowing that your foundation and hope and comfort is Jesus Christ is a great foundation for your relationship and your life as you move forward together in the coming years. Once again, gefeliciteerd!!!
Congratulations to you! You are an inspiration to me to live wholly for God, through thick and thin. It is a great joy to see your story unfold. Here’s to many more years of adventures. x
Van harte gefeliciteerd en voortdurend geluk gewenst in jullie huwelijk en gezin! Dank voor je inspirerende mijmeringen en herinneringen.
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