An Unexpected Gift

I've heard it said that crisis can either make or break a marriage.While some couples allow tragedy to shake the marital foundation, thus forcing it to weaken and crumble, other husbands and wives cleave to each other, allowing the building blocks of marriage to be even more strengthened.

This past month or so, I have experienced this phenomenon, and it is nothing short of miraculous because it is proof of God's divine love and mercy.

My teenage son has been having some health problems. Nothing critical, but deserving of our concern none the less.  Justly so, the long drives to and from the hospital, and the stress from worrying about our son's future has taken its toll on my husband and I, and there are times we feel so emotionally drained there is little energy left to cook, clean and do all the things married people are supposed to do.

We have been living like this for over one year now, and it has only been recently that I have noticed a beautiful blossom amongst the thorns. Out of the stress, worry, tears and lost hours of sleep, a present from God has been quietly bestowed upon us: the gift of new life.

The new life is not in the expecting of another child, but can be better compared to a breath of fresh air that has flowed in to our marriage. While it can be a common occurrence for almost twenty years of marriage to make married life seem mundane, our family crisis has given me new eyes and allowed me to see all the many fine qualities which first enamored me to my husband almost two decades ago. These noble personality traitswere admittedly taken for granted, yet at the time I needed them most, they were right there to strengthen and comfort me. At times when I felt I could not face another day, he was there to grab me by the hand and say, "Come on, honey, let's go for a drive and get some fresh air." When I was too mentally weary to cook, he'd reply, "No problem! Let's grab a bite to eat at a restaurant!" At night, when I was in no mood for polite small talk, he'd pull me close and stroke my hair until I would fall asleep in his arms.

From the weeds, a beautiful blossom arises.

The other day, I pulled my husband aside, and with tears in my eyes, I told him how thankful I was for him. A precious gift was beside me all along, and I was too blind to appreciate its full beauty.

My experience may sound unique, but in actuality, it is quite common. Every day, our heavenly Father knocks upon the door of his children, yet, much of the time, this door remains unopened. Like a special guest invited to a feast, God offers us the riches of salvation, grace, peace, mercy and joy, but we are so busy wrapped up in our life, or looking for love in all the wrong places that we do not see that it has existed right before us all along.

The invitation is still there sitting on the table. Open it now and you will begin the first day of your life.

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr