The argument and the makeup and challenges

The argument (early days)

Her side:

It started small, silly thing really.

He keeps leaving his clothes on the floor.

I tell him time and time again to put them in the laundry bin.

It wasn't the clothes that set me off, not really.

It's two humans getting to know eachother,

Knowing eachothers quirks and ins and outs.

I've never known nor lived with a man,

And he never a woman.

I'm emotional, while he's all logic,

It's the logic and facts part that got to me.

I want to feel like I'm heard, that he feels what I feel,

Is that too much to ask?

His side:

You turned away,

I know you’re angry with me.

You shouted about clothing,

But I read between the lines,

You're afraid, afraid I don’t really see you,

And also if I did, I'd run.

I know you feel like your emotions don't matter to me.

But they do, so much so, I wish to try to fix it,

Whatever is wrong i come at with cold, hard logic.

If there's a problem, there must be a solution.

Your emotions are precious to me,

Even if you don't think I believe they are.

I just need you to trust me, let me in, is that too hard for you?

Them together:

I feel like I'm invisible in your eyes now,

There's a rift there, of misunderstanding.

Of two vastly different people not quite meshing as well as at the first,

Can we truly weather this storm?

The makeup (early days)

Her side:

You came to me in the still of the night,

Just before I gave in to slumber, you slid in behind me,

And wrapped me in your arms, kissing my shoulder.

You told me that you’re sorry for not empathizing more,

And validating my feelings.

I accepted and said that I too was sorry, also.

For ever doubting the love you had for me.

We rested well, and the fight was finally over.

His side:

When I took those vows before man and before God, I promised to love you,

Cherish you, protect you, and be a covering over you as Christ is to His church.

You are my bride of soul and heart as well as body.

I came to you in humility, and a soft answer turns away anger. And the fight was over.

You likewise showed a gentle spirit, no pride, and a willingness to also see my side.

Them together:

Sometimes it's not about being right,

It's about keeping the peace.

We bow down to God together,

And with humble spirits, we make peace with one another.

And truly, we enjoy the ride,

For the next chapter of our journey,

The messy, beautiful story of you and me.

The altar (cover me)

His side:

I am called to love my wife, as Christ loves His bride,

Of this great calling i do not wish to hide.

But I press into this role,

For what great love I have for the bone of my bones,

The woman, who was made from man's rib,

My helpmeet, and my heartbeat.

I will spread my garment over you,

Cover you at my feet,

I will speak to you gently and not in anger.

I will be kind towards you even in our misunderstandings,

I will set aside, when you enter the room to behold this great sight,

My what a vision the wife of my youth makes, flesh of my flesh.

Together we stand before God, advancing His kingdom,

Offering from the altar of our hearts: our praise, till He comes.

Her side:

When you speak, honey is on your tongue,

Mercy and kindness you have in abundance.

Your covering of me is not one of ownership, but of love and protection,

You stand beside me and guide me with no hesitation.

I've watched you walk in your position as a headship,

And I know I can trust in your leadership.

The love you give warms my heart and keeps me steady,

Wherever the Lord leads us, I am ready.

From the bottom of my heart, dear husband,

Where you go, I will follow, from start to finish.

Them together:

We bow down together in prayer,

Bibles streaked with tears.

Handwritten notes in the margins,

And hearts left there at the altar.

Before the King, trusting Him to do with it whatsoever He will.

Love is the principle that guides,

Love is the driving force that overrides,

Any anger, any confusion, and any tactic of the enemy upon this marriage,

We hold true our vows, one to another.

And again we choose eachother.

The valley (external challenges)

Her side:

I've grown busy, and so have you.

We've been so consumed with our own works,

It's like we have no time for each other anymore,

A small hello, how was your day, but no depth at the core.

I am not faultless in this,

I, too, had a part in this.

Oh that we would return to our first love,

First to God (for we stopped doing bible study together), and then towards each other.

Do you know how that makes me feel?

To be distant from someone I hold dear,

And yet they are only a breath away, a finger's tip near?

His side:

I was consumed with doing the Lord's work and being about my father's business,

I was the face of a servant's heart to others, but neglected the wife of my home.

When the honeymoon phase wears off, and we fall into the mundane and ordinary.

The silence is worse than arguing, at least then we know what the other is thinking.

No, this is much worse; the enemy has infiltrated.

Taking love and connection, trading it for busyness and distraction.

We both played a part in getting to this place, but this is not the end of the race.

Them together:

The enemy would love nothing more,

To see this marriage dissolve like a slammed door.

Not quickly, but slowly over time, before we even noticed,

And by the time we did, it would be over already, like an eviction notice

Yet, united will we stand, alway,

We will not let it end this way.

And so we fight back together,

God at the center,

We start to go on dates again,

We hold each other again.

We confide and check in with one another.

Not surface-level conversation,

But deep calls out to deep,

And renewed vows do we now keep,

The Word is our anchor, a lamp unto our feet.

We strive hard towards that which we seek,

We trust God has already won the battle; for a moment, we may rest, for He gives His beloved sleep.