Could We Start Over?

            

            In about two months my husband and I will celebrate twenty-nine years of marriage. Sometimes I tell hubby that it seems like forever, and we both laugh. It’s true—I’m almost to the point of having been married half as long as I’ve been alive. So I can hardly think of my life without memories of this tall person.

            What I want to know, though, is: Can we start over? I wish we could. Do you ever learn something that practically smacks you in the head because you finally get it? Fortunately, God’s Spirit works in our lives to bring those wonderful moments to us.  In fact, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4: 18-19, NIV).  Our journey of faith leads us to greater understanding, illumination about life and godly living. Those who exist outside that light don’t even know what their problem is.

That ah-ha moment hit me in the last few weeks. A very little book, For Married Women Only: Three Principles for Honoring Your Husband, by Tony Evans, snapped me to attention and pierced my heart. I was a good wife a month ago, but now I’m not so sure anymore. So could I start over with this book always nearby?  Could I please begin all over and line my life up under my husband consciously, deliberately seeking to do this in obedience because I crave God’s presence and blessing, which are promised as a result of obedience? Could I please be that woman in the book?

No. No, I can’t start over. Life is not a dream, movie, or novel. It’s not even a game where I can ask for a “do-over.”  This is my life. I get one trip through each day just like everyone else.

But I can start right now, and so can you.  I challenge my dear sisters who may be struggling and feeling the friction in marriage. Other sisters, like me, may think they’re fulfilling their roles as godly wives but have that nagging intuition that something deep down is not as it ought to be. I encourage you both to explore this little jewel with me. I’m in my second read—a slow, thoughtful read. Let me know what you think. God has given his dear, lovely daughters so much opportunity as we encourage the men he has joined us to. Walking in obedience is another way we can live in faith, trusting God to do what he wills with our husbands when we step back and let him.

To purchase a copy of Tony Evans’ book, cut and paste the link below into your browser.

http://www.tonyevans.org/site/apps/ka/ec/product.asp?c=feIKLOOpGlF&b=2018477&en=biKJLZNPIfKOK9PFIfI0KdOLJhLYL4PFIeJWIfPYG&ProductID=808666