Marriage- A Disillusion?

"If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't get married."

As I listened to these words, my heart sank. An acquaintance of mine was expressing her frustrations over her shattered dream of marriage.

"Don't get married Sara; stay single."

Once again, the words stung me. I've always heard stories of young couples who "wake up" to find that marriage isn't as wonderful as they dreamed it would be. And how many times have I heard the same old line about the honeymoon finally being over? I've always been a more romantic person, and so hearing words like this sadden me. What's the point of getting married if only disappointment lies ahead?

It doesn't have to be this way.

Some days I struggle being content in my singleness, while other days I enjoy the blessings singleness can bring. However, I truly do believe a person can look forward to marriage and be happy in it. Happy only if he or she has a foundation and cornerstone like no other: Jesus Christ. Without Christ in our lives, we are only living for ourselves. So of course married couples who do not have this cornerstone come to a point in their relationships where they are unhappy and discontent. Here is what one of my favorite authors, Leslie Ludy, has to say on the matter.

"It's true that newlyweds can take unhealthy expectations into marriage. When we expect our spouses to meet needs that only Christ can meet, we will be disappointed. But here is the crucial truth we must realize: If we allow our marriages to be a beautiful outflow of a passionate relationship with Christ, we will never be disillusioned. A marriage that keeps Christ at the center only gets more amazing with time.

If you ever catch yourself "putting off" happiness until you finally get married or thinking that when you finally meet your spouse all of your dreams will be fulfilled, that's a sign that Christ hasn't fully captured your heart. If Jesus Christ isn't enough right now, then He won't be enough after marriage either." (Excerpts from Set-Apart Femininity)

Girls, let's prepare for marriage by allowing Christ to captivate our hearts. We can truly experience an amazing love story right now if we would only cultivate a "romance" with Christ. In doing so, we will not only experience great peace and satisfaction, but we will be preparing ourselves for beautiful, God-glorifying marriages!

The Sacred Ardor of Femininity- My Prayer

"I acknowledge the sacred ardor of set-apart femininity. I understand that to truly love my future husband well, I must love him with the very love of Christ. As Christ loved me and gave Himself for me, I will seek to sacrificially love and serve my future husband, both now and after marriage. Rather than fighting for my own needs and rights, my goal will be to lay my life down on behalf of my spouse. And even if no earthly love story comes my way, it will be my supreme joy and privilege to serve others and wash their feet, doing for others what Christ has done for me. I acknowledge this sacred ardor and commit, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, to seek the fulfillment of this high calling." - from Set-Apart Femininity

My Sweet Sister

~Rachel~

An Update on My Life

It's been a struggle, but I have been trying to keep up with this blog as best I can. This semester has been one of my most challenging yet, but I know God will give me the strength to get through the rest of it. Microbiology is hands down the toughest class...I really feel for all the men and women in this class who are wanting to be nurses. It's not an easy career choice! Watching shows like Discovery Health shows the exciting and dramatic experiences a nurse faces, but we rarely see the tedious aspects of this field.

Besides school, my family life is going on as normal. Today we are celebrating my grandma's 82nd birthday, and I am excited to share this special day with her. (Her birthday was actually on Tuesday, but weekend parties are so much more fun, don't you think?) I admit that I haven't had as much time to devote to my piano practicing, but I am hoping that will change once school is over. I admire the determination of my younger brother and sisters, Matt, Rachel, and Melissa, who diligently practice every day! Matt especially enjoys the piano- right now he is trying very hard to learn Pachelbel's Canon in D, and he is coming along beautifully with that. Once he sticks to something, he doesn't quit! I am also enjoying the cooler weather. Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year, and I'm looking forward to the leaves changing color soon. I love curling up in a chair, all wrapped up in a warm robe, sipping cappuchino or some other hot drink, while reading a good book.

I don't believe I've ever shared on this blog what I am wanting to do after college and why I would like to do so. Currently I'm trying to get into a dental hygiene program at my school. Now, I wasn't always interested in the dental field. In fact, I used to be adamantly against a career like that, considering I wasn't always too keen on the sciences. I used to want to be a teacher to the younger grades, but over time I felt that God was closing that door for me. After many long talks with my parents, particularly my mom, I was feeling drawn to some part of the medical field. My mom used to be an occupational therapist, and had at one point considered dental hygiene. So instead of viewing this field as a closed door, I started to seriously think and pray if God wanted me to pursue this.

At the time I was 16, and about to start my junior year in highschool. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I really was interested in dental hygiene, and amazingly, God brought to my attention a community college only 30 minutes away from me that had just opened a brand new program for dental hygiene students! When I went to an orientation meeting at the college that acquainted potential students with the program, the rooms weren't even finished, but I was becoming more and more excited about this field after learning more about it.

Missions is also another area that I am greatly interested in. Through my church, I learned about Christian dental groups that would go to foreign countries to not only help the people with their physical needs, but with their spiritual needs as well. The pieces for me were finally beginning to all come together. I was interested in dental hygiene, and I could go on mission trips as a dental hygienist to help needy people!

I have to admit that I was very disappointed when I didn't get in the first time I applied, but applications are being accepted right now. You can be sure that I sent mine in so it would get to the office the very first day!

I have to careful in many areas though. I appreciate your prayers as I seek the Lord's direction for each of these.

• I continually find myself planning my life and immediately assuming that this is God's will for me. I have to remember that I am not in the dental hygiene program yet, and God might be leading me in a different direction entirely if I don't get in.




• I tend to get discouraged and anxious when I think about my future, instead of resting in the Lord.




• I need to learn to let my plans go, instead of using them as my life manual. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."-Prov 16:9

Finally, I would like to say that I am so thankful for a family who has been supportive of this dream of mine. They encourage me when I am feeling down, and help fix my eyes on Jesus when I have them fixed on myself. I love all of them so much. My parents have been Godly examples to me, and I am blessed with 4 younger brothers and sisters who make me laugh and smile when I don't feel like it.

I've been repeating the chorus of this beautiful hymn to myself whenever I feel that I am losing focus on what is truly important.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

What have all of you been up to? I would love to hear from you!

God bless,

~Sara