On the 6th my lovely wife and I escaped from home on a marriage retreat. I'm not sure why it's called a retreat, there was some work involved. After almost 4 years of separation in a 32 year marriage it was a pleasant respite from the day to day routine. The work part was to discover some new ways to approach the inevitable conflicts of the daily rubbing elbows with a loving spouse and children still at home. Determined to not make the same old problematic mistakes that led to our separation, I was more that willing to take on this little break from home. It was a great weekend, good food, good fellowship and an absolutely heart warming time with my wife. God is gracious and far more patient with me that I deserve. I know that is only through His grace that my family put up with me for all these years. A lot of the issues still remain, but He has given me the grace to look before I leap. For me, I wish all of this would have happened sooner, NIKKI!!, but I understand that God's timing is perfect and out of trials come strength, and I know that He has given me a bunch. He has given me some insights that I pray that I will use to His glory and my happiness. All of these years of sitting under John Piper's teaching has paid off. I am finally seeing some of the joy that comes from glorifying God. Who would have thunk that praying with my wife before bed would bring such joy? All I can do is sing and praise him with what time I have left in this life and wait in anticipation to see what He has in store for me.
His servant,
Dennis
Feb 15, 2009
Feb 2, 2009
Long Over Due!
Where do you start when your whole old life changes? If I was as good with words as my wife and my oldest daughter, I would have no problem at all.
For the past 3 years, or so, my beautiful wife, of 32 years and I have been separated. Living at different addresses, had different phone numbers, and for the most part different lives. Lots of reasons for the split, too much talking not enough listening. We both said that if this marriage was to continue God would have to put it back together. Did we challange God? I don't know, all I know is that, in His own time He did just that. During the 3 years he worked on both of our hearts, taught us to wait on Him and WOW!! Really none of the cercumstances have changed, just our ability and wanting to solve them. Puting Him first over all other things, approaching all our mutual decisions with love and patience. If the vertical relationship is in place, all other things just seem to fit together. This weekend, my bride and I, we are off to a marriage retreat, to perhaps learn how to keep this going another 30 years and also have fellowship with other married folks. Enough said for now.
Later.. Dennis
For the past 3 years, or so, my beautiful wife, of 32 years and I have been separated. Living at different addresses, had different phone numbers, and for the most part different lives. Lots of reasons for the split, too much talking not enough listening. We both said that if this marriage was to continue God would have to put it back together. Did we challange God? I don't know, all I know is that, in His own time He did just that. During the 3 years he worked on both of our hearts, taught us to wait on Him and WOW!! Really none of the cercumstances have changed, just our ability and wanting to solve them. Puting Him first over all other things, approaching all our mutual decisions with love and patience. If the vertical relationship is in place, all other things just seem to fit together. This weekend, my bride and I, we are off to a marriage retreat, to perhaps learn how to keep this going another 30 years and also have fellowship with other married folks. Enough said for now.
Later.. Dennis
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