Treasures Around A Dining Room Table
A couple of months before we got married, Ben moved in with some friends of ours. His room mate, Brian, had just gotten married to my pal Bek, and for some reason they thought Ben would infringe on their space. I know, go figure. ;-) Since our own wedding date was still weeks away, Ben moved in with Tom and Mindy to save a little cash. He wasn't the first young guy to crash at their place ... their home was always open to anyone who needed it. We hung out there quite a bit during that time, and grew closer with them than before.
After we got married, we lived a couple of blocks from them, and then a few years later we moved in right next door. Together we worked in ministry, spent weekends at the movies, took a few vacations, and enjoyed lots and lots of conversation and laughter around their dinner table and ours. Our marriage and spiritual walk was always challenged and encouraged by our time spent with them. That time, I believe, was a gift that God gave to our marriage. Neither of us had grown up in perfect homes (who does?) but we were able to watch a couple who had overcome quite a lot in their early years, and see that perfection isn't the key to a happy marriage. It's the amount of effort that you are willing to give in the fight for your marriage that really counts!
They've never claimed to be perfect, but you will never, ever find another couple who will fight harder for their marriage.
Yesterday they shared some of their passion for marriage with our church body. If you have a good marriage, you will want to listen. If you have a bad marriage, you will want to listen as well. They are both very gifted speakers, and you will enjoy every minute of it. I promise. In fact, I'm so sure that you'll enjoy it, that I'll offer a money back guarantee if you don't. You can go here and listen to an mp3 of Week 3, "Let's Talk About Us", OR you can download it for free from iTunes.
Yesterday, I arrived early to work backstage for the services, and my friend Marie, who also works with me, let me know that Tom and Mindy wanted to have a table out on the stage with them during the services. So we got them a table and chairs, and they proceeded to blow the audience away with what God has taught them throughout their marriage. It was only later, when we were back home, and I was reflecting on the services, that I saw the irony in that table on the stage. That table was actually our old dining room table. Ben's parents bought it for us our first year of marriage. The table that we used to share meals with and glean wisdom from Tom and Mindy, was now used to do the same thing for our entire church body. While you may not have been blessed with Mindy's amazing homemade chicken and noodles on that table yesterday, I hope you received something far more filling.
'Zogs, we love you guys to pieces! Thanks!
After we got married, we lived a couple of blocks from them, and then a few years later we moved in right next door. Together we worked in ministry, spent weekends at the movies, took a few vacations, and enjoyed lots and lots of conversation and laughter around their dinner table and ours. Our marriage and spiritual walk was always challenged and encouraged by our time spent with them. That time, I believe, was a gift that God gave to our marriage. Neither of us had grown up in perfect homes (who does?) but we were able to watch a couple who had overcome quite a lot in their early years, and see that perfection isn't the key to a happy marriage. It's the amount of effort that you are willing to give in the fight for your marriage that really counts!
They've never claimed to be perfect, but you will never, ever find another couple who will fight harder for their marriage.
Yesterday they shared some of their passion for marriage with our church body. If you have a good marriage, you will want to listen. If you have a bad marriage, you will want to listen as well. They are both very gifted speakers, and you will enjoy every minute of it. I promise. In fact, I'm so sure that you'll enjoy it, that I'll offer a money back guarantee if you don't. You can go here and listen to an mp3 of Week 3, "Let's Talk About Us", OR you can download it for free from iTunes.
Yesterday, I arrived early to work backstage for the services, and my friend Marie, who also works with me, let me know that Tom and Mindy wanted to have a table out on the stage with them during the services. So we got them a table and chairs, and they proceeded to blow the audience away with what God has taught them throughout their marriage. It was only later, when we were back home, and I was reflecting on the services, that I saw the irony in that table on the stage. That table was actually our old dining room table. Ben's parents bought it for us our first year of marriage. The table that we used to share meals with and glean wisdom from Tom and Mindy, was now used to do the same thing for our entire church body. While you may not have been blessed with Mindy's amazing homemade chicken and noodles on that table yesterday, I hope you received something far more filling.
'Zogs, we love you guys to pieces! Thanks!
4 talkin' back:
Amen and Amen!
That's so awesome! Sounds like they are some amazing friends!!
My husband and I are passionate about encouraging couples and building lasting marriages. Thanks for the link!
I'm gonna check the link out today! I love to hear wisdom from those who have been there done that.
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