My beloved is mine, and I am his … Song of Songs 2:16 For our tenth anniversary my husband bought us rings with this verse inscribed in Hebrew. Often I am asked about my ring. I always think it is such a privilege to share what the ring says and when I got it. Next year we’ll celebrate our 20th anniversary {yes, I was a child bride!}. Both Scott and I have grandparents who have been married more than 60 years.  My parents will celebrate their 44th anniversary in April. Long marriages are a ... [Read More]

She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 What does that mean, “she does him good”? I think it’s about being an asset to him and making his life better.  It’s one of the reasons I try to ask the same question every day: What can I do to help you today? It’s about being on his team and in his corner, affirming him and cheering him on.  But it’s also about filling in the gaps and serving him. This is definitely an area of my life where I need to ... [Read More]

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Life gets busy. The kids’ schedules run our calendars. There are more home projects than time to do them. Money is in even less supply than time. And we can wake up and realize our relationships with our husbands have lost the spark — not just sexually, but emotionally.  We can get so busy tag-teaming life that we lose sight of our need for friendship. I’ve seen it happen in my marriage and in my friends’ marriages as ... [Read More]

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4 I shared before my prayer for our home … to create space for people, for relationships. These verses from Proverbs 24  invite us to understand what makes the foundation of Christ-centered home Wisdom: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. Understanding: the ability to understand ... [Read More]

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21 What are you chasing as a couple? If we are really honest, sometimes we are not on the same page, we don’t have the same pursuits. He’s pushing ahead on a hobby. She’s wholly invested in the children. His eye is on the prize at work. She is diligent about exercise.  The ways this plays out are endless. And, it is distinctly possible both are pursuing good things, noble things. But if we are ... [Read More]

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 In April of 1999, Scott and I received the devastating news we would most likely be unable to conceive children of our own. It was a Wednesday and that night during choir practice we both struggled to sing about the faithfulness of God. We felt abandoned and forgotten by the very God about which we were singing. Our plans were not to be. And we were faced with a choice: would we trust God even when it was hard and ... [Read More]