"...being heirs together of the grace of life..."
1 Peter 3:7
God has given us a rich inheritance; one that is lavish, free, and complete; a generous gift from a good Father to his undeserving children.
This inheritance is two-dimensional. We have inherited the gift of physical life - with all of its wonder and sparkle and colour - and we have also inherited spiritual life through the Gospel.
To marry is to join yourself intimately with another soul and share together the joy of this inheritance. There is love, there is patience, and there is mutual encouragement to claim these wonderful gifts as your own. When you're discouraged, there is a word of hope. When you fall, there is a gentle reminder of grace. When the world looks dark, there is a beautiful refuge of love, poured out in all of its sacrificial splendor.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?This person becomes a partner - indeed, a part of you - who knows you as well as or better than you know yourself and yet has the spiritual autonomy to speak the words you need to hear. It's like a pair of rock climbers working in tandem, completely dependent on one another. They are both sharing the same experience and subjecting themselves to the same risks, but at any given moment, at least one will have solid footing and be ready to catch the other.Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
To have someone who is willing to walk this closely with you through life's blessings and discouragements in this way is an indescribable gift. You're not alone anymore. Everything is shared, everything is together, and somehow, sharing two burdens makes both lighter.
In this breaking we are hand in glove / Come with me my love / We will find shelter here-Sandra McCracken, Gravity | Love, "Shelter"
Image courtesy of Jeff Slagg
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