What Marriage Means

Yesterday, my wife and I celebrated 40 years of marriage.

Everything was against us when we were married those many years ago. We were young, broke, and clueless. We had no real relationship with Jesus Christ, and we were two very different people from different cultures and social upbringings. We lived on opposing sides of the country: I was a Florida boy and she a westcoaster California girl. We were opposites in every sense. But here we were, young and in love, not knowing what was next but taking steps to be together for life.

And what a life it’s been. I literally watched my wife grow up, becoming an incredibly sweet soul, one who has constantly placed others before herself, one who has devoted herself completely to her family, to me, to her Savior. She’s been an amazing example of what it means to be a Christian woman, wife, and mother. Every day, she literally lives out Peter’s words that he gave to the wives of the church:

1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— [4] but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

And for me, yet, despite my imperfections, she has loved me, a man who is a flawed individual. She’s patiently made me better over the years, not for myself, but for my Lord. Her love for me has been a picture of God’s grace for me, a human snapshot of what God does always for those who are His. And through it all, she never cared what I could afford for her, but only cared that I loved her for who she is. And even when I missed the mark, she has continued to love me without conditions.

And this is what marriage means. For us to be coheirs of the Kingdom. Together. For us to be encouragers to one another, to be one flesh, to be together as husband and wife to glorify Christ. Whether in the hills and the valleys, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, we’ve been united for Jesus. Together, we remember the past, live in the present, and look with a hope to the future. One in Jesus. An example for Jesus. Pointing to Jesus. Only Jesus.

And this is our example of our marriage. I pray that we have been that example to our kids, grandkids, and extended family. To the world. 🙂

I love you, M. Teresa Trascritti. What a ride it’s been. And we’ve only just begun. ❤️