BRANDON’S STORY

Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which His mother crowned Him on the day of His wedding, the day of the gladness of His heart.

~Song 3:11 NKJV (emphasis added)

“I’m gonna marry her,” Brandon* said, wiping sweat from his brow.

The sun was hot and the humidity high after the storms had blown in that week, making his mowing job a test of endurance.

I was glad that after seven years of being with his lady, he was finally ready to commit to putting a ring on her finger. Even so, I knew they’d need a different kind of endurance. Compassion welled from within me.

“May I offer advice that will give you strength to endure the ups and downs of married life?”

“Umm, maybe…”

“This old lady has been married for nearly four decades.”

I could see Brandon’s continued hesitancy.

“Happily,” I added.

“Sure, ma’am. Give it a whirl.”

DON’T FIGHT

“Be angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

~ Ephesians 4:26 NKJV

“First suggestion: Don’t fight. Commit to that. When we were going through premarital counseling, we told the pastor, respectfully, that we weren’t going to fight, even though he tried to convince us otherwise.”

“Have you stuck to that commitment?” Brandon asked.

“In all these years, I can count on a few fingers the times we’ve fallen out.”

“How’d you do that?”

“We took God at His Word not to let the sun go down on our anger.”

“We fight, sometimes. But somebody always gives in, and we make up.”

“Sometimes we need space. But we commit to a resolve the matter before we go to sleep.”

“We do the same thing. We can be walking around mad, but we don’t let the sun set on anger.”

“That’s great!”

“Sometimes we just gotta respect that we have differing opinions.”

“I agree.”

“What else can you tell me?”

DO THE LITTLE THINGS

“I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.”

~Song 6:3a NKJV (emphasis added)

“Do the little things. Your lady doesn’t just want to know intellectually that you love her. She wants you to demonstrate that to her.”

“So, how do you and your husband do that?”

“My hubby will do the dishes or the laundry in a heartbeat. He opens doors—always. We turn the bed down for each other. I write him notes and tuck them in his lunchbox. I cook for him. And I make sure to bake his favorites often. Just little stuff like that.”

“Then he knows you’re thinking about him.”

“And vice-versa.”

“I can do that,” Brandon said.

“Are you ready for the zinger?”

“Fire away.”

PRAY TOGETHER

“O My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let Me see your face, let Me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”

~Song 2:14 NKJV (emphasis added)

“Pray together. If there’s anything that keeps a marriage together, prayer is it.”

“Hmmm.”

“And don’t just bring your worry list. Spend enough time to hear God speak. When we take time to love on Him and just sit a while when we’re with Him, He will speak.”

“I like that.”

“Prayer bonds our marriage like no other activity.”

“I believe you.”

“Okay, well thanks for listening to this senior, hon. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. May God bless your union.”

“Thanks, ma’am.”

“You’re welcome.”

BRIDE WELL-FAVORED

My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her.

~Song 6:9 NKJV (emphasis added)

Bride of Christ, as I pen Brandon’s story, I can’t help but think how wonderful your marriage is, and that the King of the Universe favors you. 

His love for us is unfathomable. If only we realized how deep our Beloved Jesus’ love for us truly is, we’d be amazed. His love is something I have a tough time wrapping my brain around. But it’s true.

He really does love us, and He proved that on Calvary’s cross. That was a huge sacrifice, but His love is that true. Jesus’ commitment to us outshines the sun. So, give to Him all that you are. He will bless you as you do so.

Take time to thank your Bridegroom, Jesus, for His love.

My Beloved Jesus, You are the best spiritual spouse I could ever imagine. Thank You for marrying me. Bless my marriage to my earthly spouse and make us one in You. Help us, O King of the Universe, to daily acknowledge You as our Lord and King.

Your Bride,

Love

Genre: Creative Non-fiction Devotion

Copyright 2023: Marry Her: Diane Virginia Cunio: All Rights Reserved