On our side

I'm learning a lot these days. Yes I'm still in school, but my life lessons are not coming from the classroom right now. Don't get me wrong, classes definitely teach us a lot--and I am especially excited about my preaching practicum where I'll get the chance to preach a couple times this quarter. But that's not the most important thing I am learning right now.

What I've come to realize in a really powerful way this past week or so is how incredible community is. I have amazing friends, and I have always known that, but this has come to my attention again in a new way. Last weekend Dave, Tera, and Jenn all helped Chuck and I put together our wedding invitations so we could get them mailed. The way that they were more than willing to give up a couple hours of their weekend to stuff, label, stamp, and seal envelopes was so humbling to us-realizing how people are willing to support us in little, but important ways.

The invitations were just one example of where I saw people's love for us this past week. Friends beginning to ask how they can support us these next 71 days (ok they don't know how many exact days there are, that was my addition!), how the girls can celebrate me (bridal showers/bachelorette parties, shopping trips to Victoria's Secret? ;) , what we think we might need as we get closer to the wedding etc. I had kind of an emotional week (that might be an understatement), which I definitely am not going into here in cyber-world, but one of the things that struck me when I was talking to a couple of close friends about it, was how their desire was to support BOTH of us, even though it was me they were talking to. I realized that those who have always been close to me are now on our side. They are willing to support me by supporting and encouraging our marriage--both with their time, but also with their prayers, their encouragement, and their emotional support. Sometimes this means they need to say things to me that I'm not sure I want to hear, but know I need to as I am growing as a soon-to-be-wife, and need to put my fiance's needs ahead of mine sometimes. (Which is not always easy!) I have a LOT to learn about what it means to love someone so fully, to support and encourage someone in the way that I hope to be able to do with Chuck. And I am so thankful that I have so many friends who love me enough to help me grow as I prepare for this next phase in life.

And even more than that, I am SO thankful I have a man who is always on my side. I saw that this week in a few powerful ways. I am learning that part of being married (even though I'm not married yet) means having someone always in your corner, even when in a disagreement with one another. (Meaning, we may disagree with one another and discuss it, argue about it etc, but when it comes down to it, he will always have my back in life). I had a week where, for various reasons, I was too emotional, tired, and stressed to be able to function well on my own. Chuck stepped in time and time again to wrap his arms around me, let me cry on his shoulder (even when I wasn't really crying for any apparent reason--sometimes as women, we just have those kinds of weeks!), and remind me over and over again that he loves me, that he can't wait to marry me, and that he may not know how to fix things when I'm emotional, but he was willing to sit with me until I felt better. His patience, gentleness, and love blew me away (and often made me cry more...sheesh, I just couldn't win this week!). One night we were reading our Psalm and praying together and I just didn't have the words to be able to do that, and his response was to wrap his arms around me and say "ok, I'll pray for you right now." He was on my side. And gently carried me before our Heavenly Father. And I can't seem to get over how safe I felt knowing he was there. Praise God for good gifts in life!