“Yes, I do.” Three simple words spoken seven years ago that feel both like yesterday and forever. Indeed, it is forever. While we confidently declared our “I dos,” we’ve also had our share of “I don’ts.” We’re not a perfect couple, but these seven years have taught us precious lessons that have helped our marriage blossom for God’s glory.
Lesson One: The Power of Decision
Marriage is more than a feeling—it’s a decision renewed each day. Like a queen bee who commits wholly to her hive knowing the cost, our “I do” carries the weight of “till death do us part.” We’ve come to understand that our union was orchestrated by God, with a divine purpose: to mirror His character through our marriage to friends, family, strangers, and you, dear reader.
Our 1st year anniversary
I can still picture that afternoon, looking into her eyes as I recited my vows. I chose Proverbs 31—every word intentional, every promise sacred. The night before, I remember dancing with my friend Daniel to our old choir songs, both of us celebrating my final hours before joining lives with Mavis. Amid the joy and music, a profound thought kept echoing: this decision I’m making tomorrow is forever. But this wasn’t a blind leap of faith. My choice was founded on who Mavis had proven to be, on the character I had come to know and trust. Our marriage, like the union between Christ and His church, shadows something eternal. People often say there’s no marriage in heaven, just as there’s no earthly pleasures there. So why does this oath matter so deeply? Because it’s meaningful through the lens of that eternal union with Christ. “This marriage will work,” I told myself, not because we’re perfect, but because God’s beauty would be magnified through our commitment. Just as Christ covers our unrighteousness with His righteousness, our frailties would be veiled by God’s grace. Our role now is to move from glory to glory, keeping Jesus at the center of it all.
Our 7th year anniversary
As the ancient wisdom reminds us:
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). This third strand is Christ Himself, weaving through our marriage, strengthening what would otherwise be fragile human love with divine purpose. Solomon’s passionate declaration still echoes through time: “I have found the one whom my soul loves” (Song of Solomon 3:4). Like him, we discover that marriage is not just a union of bodies and minds, but of souls seeking God together. The Apostle Paul captures this mystery beautifully: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31-32)
As Saint Augustine wisely observed: “The world was created by God out of nothing. Yet when He makes something holy out of a sinner, He makes something out of nothing indeed.” In marriage, God takes two imperfect people and creates something sacred—a living testimony to His transforming love.
In the words of Song of Solomon: “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away” (8:7). Like these ancient words, our love stands resilient, not because of our strength, but because it’s anchored in something—Someone—far greater than ourselves.
The lesson? Yes, we have our imperfections and struggles, but our “I do” stands firm in the face of eternity. Our marriage reflects God’s glory by exemplifying His might and love in our daily relationship. This is why we continue to blossom. We plan together, eat together, laugh together, make decisions together—managing finances, raising children, caring for siblings and parents—all with intentionality guided by God’s greater plan.
So we continue to say “I do,” every single day. Because marriage isn’t just about that one moment at the altar—it’s about choosing each other, choosing God’s way, choosing unity, every step of the journey.
Selah.