Monday, December 31, 2012

Marriage is a Ministry (...yikes)


"Your marriage will be your greatest ministry," my pastor told us over Greek food during our premarital counseling. I smiled and nodded, having no idea what he was talking about. I mean, it sounded poetic and all. But I couldn't comprehend how my love for my future husband would affect anyone else.

The longer I'm married (13 whole months...I know, I know, I'm a pro) the more I realize that love begets love. The more I love God, the more I love my husband. The more I love my husband, the more loving I am to my family and friends. It sounds odd, almost, but it really never fails.

My marriage can also be an encouragement to my single gal pals. I hesistate to say that because I don't want to sound like I'm this awesome source of inspiration. "You guys should totally want to be like me because my marriage ROCKS."

Sister can't even make toast. Not exactly wife of the year.

But I know that I would have appreciated having a young married couple to watch when I was single.

Two of my friends came up to me shortly after my wedding and said, "I'd already planned on staying a virgin until I was married, but watching you and Trevor made me realize that it's not only possible, but it's worth it."

I had no idea that such a personal decision could be so helpful to other people.

In my husband's youth group the other night, we split into small groups and were instructed to say positive, encouraging things to each other. I was the only female in a group of teenage boys. (I was akward around them when I was a teenager, and I'm awkward around them today. Boys just scare me). So I was prepared to hear them talk about video games and knives and sharp objects in general.

But, to my total suprise, one of the boys looked at me and told me what an encouragement  me and Trevor's marriage was to him; how it made him want to wait for the right person and have a relationship with God as the foundation.

I was floored. A fifteen-year-old boy noticed that? Just by watching us? (Fifteen year old boys have souls? Kidding, kidding. Sort of).

It's changed the way I view my entire relationship with Trevor. It doesn't just matter to him how I treat him. And it doesn't just matter to God. It matters to everyone we know. Love begets love.

Our love and respect for each other can spill out to countless other people. And unfortunately, so can the not-so-nice stuff. Disagreements in public. My attitude.

I have such a long way to go, but I'm choosing to be more conscious of how I act around my husband and the impact it has on other people, regardless of whether I'm aware of it.

7 comments:

  1. That's awesome! Teenagers need great examples of Godly marriages.

    It's definitely intimidating to be a minister's wife and to be living "in front" of everyone.

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    1. Absolutely! Especially as a newlywed who's just trying to figure this whole marriage thing out :)

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  2. This is truth right here! You both are exceptional examples of a married couple!

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  3. This is truth right here! You both are exceptional examples of a married couple!

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  4. Oh girl, I just love this! It's true, you affect more people than you think. It's nice to hear this perspective!

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  5. We've now been married for over 3 years and are 25 and it has shown to us many things. Like you how we are an example/encouragement to younger couples & singles still waiting to be married but also unfortunately a stumbling block/ jealousy of singles older than us at times. All in all its been amazing to learn and grow together. I see marriage as growing in grace together :)

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