It’s so fun, and yet currently heart wrenching, to see people celebrating anniversaries (and other couple things). First one, 10th, 25th, 30th, 50th, and 60th are the usual BIG anniversaries. I was catching up on Madam Secretary tonight and they were celebrating their 30th. Yes it had me in tears, no surprise.
I remember when Rob proposed and I said yes, thinking that we’d be lucky to get to celebrate 25 or 30 years, if the Lord was willing. A few nights ago I had a moment of “it isn’t fair that it was only 4 1/2 years of marriage”.
It was 1996 (the year of my divorce from my children’s father) when I learned life wasn’t fair…. that no where on my birth certificate did it say the word “fair”. I didn’t want to be divorced. I had stayed 17 years trying to avoid putting my children through a divorce. It wasn’t fair. However, that was the year Jer 29:11 became my favorite verse replacing the last phrase of Josh 24:15. It’s not that I don’t still live by Josh 24:15 as I have it on my cross wall, 
but I live each day knowing that God knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me not to harm me!
Rob and I courted for 18 months. It was important for us to change the legacy of divorce in our lives, our children’s lives, as well as those who are closest to us. God turned that obedience into ministering to other couples through Art of Marriage in our home, which we brought to our church. Finally we were blessed to minister to one pre-marital couple as part of Marriage Mentors at our church, before Rob was too ill. I could continue to cry over how it isn’t fair or I can look at the beauty of what happened in our short years together. To be grateful for the legacy that did indeed change our lives. So I give thanks to God for his blessing, and tonight I ask for His peace, the peace that passes all understanding.
Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Father, please come close to us, the broken hearted who are anxious, who are feeling that life isn’t fair. Who are struggling with “couples” things, especially with Valentines already being prevalent in the stores. Give us Your peace that is unlike any other. Help us to be thankful for all You have done for us. But in that thankfulness, help us to bring our requests to You. Amen
Grace Under Pressure 