I was sick, which isn’t exactly how I envisioned spending my 17th wedding anniversary weekend.
Of all things, I was battling a stomach bug.
It all started this past Friday. I was feeling a little under the weather, but shrugged it off, assuming it would pass. As my discomfort grew and my head began throbbing, I thought maybe I just needed some rest.
By Saturday, my anniversary day, I was in a bad way.
All our special celebratory plans were canceled.
Bummer.
Thank God I’m feeling a whole lot better today and have been able to go about my normal daily activities.
When I logged into Facebook for the first time, I saw the most beautiful message there from my husband Kenya, along with all the sweet anniversary wishes.
I just sat there reading and crying. My heart was truly touched. I feel blessed and thankful. God is good.
Since wedding anniversaries make me reflect on things I have learned throughout the years, my mind went back to our first year of marriage. It was 1998 and we had moved into our first little apartment. Boy were we ever so happy to have our own place!
Our favorite couple, Charlie and Rhina—an Irish pair in their eighties—introduced themselves soon after we moved in. They invited us over for salmon sandwiches and cookies, and shared their hilarious stories with us about how they met. These two were so in love. Our visits were always joyous.
Though they both were quite feeble, they took care of each other and built a strong, lasting union.
One afternoon, I was coming upstairs from the basement where I was washing and drying clothes. I saw Rhina standing there all bruised up. Her body was covered in green, black and blue marks.
“What happened?” I gasped.
“Oh, I fell down the stairs,” she said. “I’m alright. It looks worse than it feels,” she assured me with her thick Irish accent. At the time, she was doing her best to take care of Charlie who had recently returned home after an extended hospital stay. He was hooked up to an oxygen tank.
Rhina was insistent upon being a caretaker.
I was very concerned about their health and quickly asked if there was anything I could do.
She simply requested that I bring her clothes up from downstairs, which I happily agreed to. I wished there was more I could contribute.
Until the day we moved out, Kenya and I were deeply appreciative of Rhina and Charlie's friendship, and all they taught us about life and love.
They showed us what it looked like to be genuine, kind and loving to each other throughout every season, whether good or bad.
Their love remained constant.
Spiritually speaking, constancy in love, through both the bitter and sweet, is something God gives. But many times, the enemy tries to convince us that the Lord's love has somehow failed us when life fails to meet our expectations. He wants us to question whether God loves us during times of lack and difficulty.
But friend, don't question God's love for you. It never changes, diminishes or runs out.
That doesn't mean our relationship with the Lord will consist of only great moments of pure bliss. We know that isn't true. And yet, He loves us on easy days and hard ones; in times of happiness and sorrow; in green pastures and parched deserts.
As I often tell you, things won’t always be peachy-keen. You won’t be met with ideal circumstances every day.
But again, He loves you in the good and bad. He cares for you when skies are sunny and when they are grey. Don’t allow anything to make you doubt His love for you and let nothing strip away your love for Him.
To remind you that He cares in all seasons, I’m stirring Romans 8:35 NLT into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, if you are going through a season of distress, may you be assured that it does not lessen God’s love for you!
He adores you and has a good plan for your life. In the meantime, run to Him in your time of need. He is there waiting. As Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Whatever you go through, just remember who to go to. God, the lover of your soul will never leave nor forsake you.
Now let’s pray.
God, in hard times, it’s easy to feel overlooked and forgotten. But please help me remember, whether in good times or bad, You love me just the same. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with you. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
