Unshackled Moments ~ January 24 ~ An Open Letter To My WIfe

I'm going to do something a little different today. Rather than share or teach or whatever it is that I normally do with the Unshackled Moments, I want to express some gratitude and share with rigorous honesty an example of the miraculous power of God to bring blessing, freedom and transformation into the lives of the broken. All we have to give is our experience strength and hope.

My experience is that I was a bad son, brother and husband. Bad doesn't quite cover it. I was a nightmare of selfishness, betrayal and destruction. With my track record, I deserved no more chances and had no hope of anything being different or better had I received one. But God performed a miracle and freed me from the bondage of self. Then He gave me a great blessing, another chance, the treasure I believed I would never have and didn't deserve. Today I celebrate that awesome gift.

My Dearest Lady,
Leah, I can't believe that it's been five years today since we stood together in my parent's living room and heard my father pronounce us one before God and the state of Texas. Sometimes it feels so much longer, as the connection of our souls feels ancient and timeless. Other times it feels like yesterday. There are still mysteries and amazing discoveries that leave me in joyous wonder in seeing more deeply who  you are and who you are becoming. I feel like the honeymoon has just begun.

You are my treasure, and I adore you. I feel so blessed to have been given such a wonderful helpmate and blessing so far beyond what I deserve. Even more, I rejoice at the transformation that has made it possible for me to make you happy and be the kind of man and husband that you deserve.To be a part of your joy and healing rather than added destruction is a miraculous twist of the story of my life that continues to amaze me. You and our relationship is perhaps the greatest testimony to the power of God to heal the broken and restore beauty from ashes that God has used my life to demonstrate.

I regret that we robbed our parents , family and friends of the pleasure of seeing you walk down an aisle. It has been my desire to renew our vows with a public ceremony so that they might experience that, so I can see you in a wedding dress meant for me and so that you can have your cake and eat it too. I am grateful that we were unable to fulfill our plans to do this on our fifth anniversary since I can barely walk at the moment. Someday I pray. Still, I renew my vows to you every morning and with every declaration of my love for you, both public and private.

Here, at this moment, on this anniversary of our union, I promise to continue to cherish you. I take comfort in the grace that has been and will continue to be on my life which keeps me free from the selfishness and addictions that would make this vow impossible to honor. I am yours, and you are mine, because we are God's. I will spend the rest of our days walking by your side, helping you and being there for you to lean on, and leaning on you as we help each other walk with God. I honor you and adore you and will always do so.

You are my love, my joy, my greatest blessing second only to Christ. You will remain the priority of my life above everything but Him. I can promise this in faith that I will  be able to fulfill it, because I know that it is the will of God for us to be one and for me to love you and care for you as Christ loved and sacrificed Himself for us, for His bride. I thank you for the love you give me, and I ask you to forgive every moment when I have fallen short of the ideal that I strive for, for the times when fear or pain make my tone unloving, or when I have slipped into self and failed to be the help you need.

I have never for one second regretted our marriage or our life together. I truly believe that it is better now than when it was new and young. I pray that the trend continues and that when we hit the ten year mark it will find us still honeymooning and growing closer and happier together than we are today. I give glory and praise to the God who made it possible. For Him to take a selfish addict who couldn't love anyone well, not even himself, and create a man captivated by love, ready and willing to lay down his daily life for his bride amazes me and feels me with hope for the future. Not to take away from the enormity of that miracle, but you make it easy. Loving you is the easiest thing God has ever called me to do. I could more quickly cease breathing than harden my heart towards you.

I love you. Happy Anniversary.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.