“I remember how eager you were to please me
as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
even through the barren wilderness.”
Jeremiah 2:2
http://www.onmission.com/atf/cf/%7B6767E79D-6E1B-4602-98D7-FFF47EE72523%7D/the_bride_of_christ.jpg
I’ve been working on a retreat that is coming up where the theme is “He Chose Me” and the lessons all revolve around the church being “The Bride of Christ.” So, I was simply amazed to read this verse in my quiet time yesterday. I had never read it before.
Wow!
The verse brought back many memories of my early days of marriage…the fun of getting a pop at a gas station and then heading to the park to play tennis, the fun of taking walks, the fun of cutting down our very first Christmas tree on a farm of someone from the church where Tim had a weekend ministry…
And it made me realize how different life has become as we have entered some deep times of “barren wilderness.” I think my eagerness to be a pleasing bride has faded through the years in many ways. I’m just being honest. I need to work on this area of my life a lot!
But even more than that, I wonder how my relationship with my Eternal Groom has changed through my barren wilderness days. Am I still longing to meet Him at the door? Is my dress as white and spotless as I once longed for it to be? Am I always watching and waiting….hoping His return is soon????
From my perspective, marriage proves to be challenging in my house as well as everywhere I look around me….and I think it is very symbolic of the church’s struggle to stay committed to Christ and His teaching.
Tim and I are heading to a marriage retreat for the weekend for couples who have lost a child. I think it will be so good for us to get away and spend some time with other couples who are grieving.
It makes me realize, though, that I may need some time away with my other Groom……some time to simply remember the “eagerness” of my early days as a Christian. The days before my “barren wilderness.”
Thankful that God paints pictures that are so real! As I have faced tough times and watched other friends face them too, I realize more and more every day that in the end all that will matter is how prepared we are for the return of our Eternal Groom!
Attempting to live a life “dressed in white” while waiting eagerly at my door for His return!
In December of 2007 as our youngest son, Nick, was fighting brain cancer, I began to blog. Writing provided a way for me to release all of my questions, fears, and doubts. It also allowed me to share the ups and downs of Nick's journey with people who were praying for him all over the world. When Nick went Home in November of 2008, my blog became my way of searching for God in the midst of my deep heartache. My heart was broken and grief brought to the surface every emotion imaginable. Being able to release those emotions through my writing brought a sense of purpose to my pain. Having already walked the road of grief in 1992 when we lost our daughter to SIDS, I knew I needed a way to keep from falling into a pit of depression and despair. I had walked close to the edge of a bottomless pit when we lost our daughter,and I knew I couldn't let myself get that close to the edge again. This blog has been and continues to be my tiny corner of the world where I can share My Heart as I journey through God's Word.......thus the name........ My Heart His Words. Thank you for taking time to share life with me. If we do not meet while here on earth, I look forward to hearing all about your life when we reach our final destiny.........Heaven! Email me anytime at 
Tammy ~
You really made me think on this one…thanks, I nedded it!
Janel
This really made me stop an think about where I am right now in my walk with Christ.Am I that eager bride that I used to be or have I let the “dry season” cause me to not be as eagerly waiting for Him.You inspire me so much.If I were to choose a hero on this earth it would be you.In fact I will just say you are my hero…..A mighty woman of God !