Many who are reading this don’t know me personally. Based on what you’ve read via social media, you may be tempted to think I’m this great woman who has persevered through many trials.
What you don’t know is what happens behind the scenes. You see, although I wish it weren’t so, I am not all that amazing. My family will testify to that fact. I tell more than I should, I spend too much time talking and not enough time listening and the list goes on and on and on.
Contrary to popular opinion, no one is perfect.that said, in the heat of attraction, one wants to believe the person they are with is perfect.
When I met my Viking, a little over 20 years ago, I was a mess. I wanted to believe I was a princess deserving of a prince but had accepted the fact that I was more like a fallen princess who deserves nothing.
I found peace and forgiveness in my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and had accepted that I was more than I felt I was and made the choice to trust God more than my own feelings or emotions.
Around this time, a man came into my life who saw the raw but healing holes within me and wanted to join me in the battles of life that we both knew were ahead of me.
He didn’t have to but he was the model of Christ to me. He saw me as a forgiven woman, cleansed of all wrong doing, a woman who was imperfect but that he wanted to love and walk with thru the rest of our lives on this Earth.
We’ve gone through a lot since those days. 21 years later, I’m just as messed up…if not more and he still stands by me.
Sure, he would admit he isn’t perfect but he is kind and loving and forgiving even though I generally don’t deserve it. He chooses love and honor when he could rightfully choose anger and resentment.
Why am I sharing this with you?
Because I want you to know that true love isn’t all about the feelings you feel when you are with that person, or the belief that you are complete when with that person. True love is deciding to stay with that person even when they hurt you. It’s going into battle with them because you committed to be their partner for life. It’s acknowledging everyone is human and allowed mistakes. It’s about forgiving and being willing to pick up that sword and shield for them no matter what.
I don’t deserve it but I’m ever so thankful this Thanksgiving for him and his choice to love me.
