When God Decides to Illuminate Something

Have you ever had a moment when you looked at someone or something and realized you were seeing it differently? Not because it had changed, but because you were finally seeing clearly. That’s how God works sometimes.

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” - Proverbs 18:22

Reflection

A while back, my wife and I were with a few friends celebrating a birthday. It turned into an anniversary celebration too. Not ours but another couple that was with us. It was just a good night with people who know you well. The kind of night that’s simple but leaves you full.

Not us but you get the idea

At some point during dinner, I looked across the table at her. She didn’t see me looking. Something about her hit me differently.

Later, I saw a picture from that night. It captured her smile, but not what I saw. What stood out wasn’t just how she looked. It was what I felt. There was joy resting on her face. A lightness in her presence. Something deeper. I sat with that feeling. Just noticing. Noticing the woman she is and how beautiful she is inside and out.

Marriage is a journey. It comes with all kinds of twists, turns, ups, and downs. Some couples make it. Some don’t. We have. The couples we were with that night have too.

This is us

Love is always part of it, but so is the hard stuff. The miscommunication, the stress, the compromise, the silent moments, and the loud ones. You walk through all of it. Sometimes hand in hand, sometimes barely hanging on. But you keep walking.

If you’ve read anything I write, you probably know I journal. I’ve written about what gets to me in relationships. About how certain things trigger thoughts I’d rather not have. That kind of tension doesn’t go away just because you had a great evening. But those moments of tension don’t cancel the beauty either. Both are real. Both matter.

That’s one of the mysteries of long-term love. Every now and then, you’re given a moment where you see the other person differently. You see past the daily routine. You see their soul. And something in you is moved. That’s not just love. That’s something holy.

If you stay present, you begin to really see the one beside you. You start to understand the weight and the wonder of doing life together. Of choosing each other again and again, especially on the days when quitting would be easier.

Marriage isn’t a fairytale. It’s not someone else’s highlight reel. It’s faith. It’s flexibility. It’s learning to grow and stretch and stay when things don’t go as planned.

That night, what struck me wasn’t just her smile. It wasn’t just how pretty she looked. It was the story behind it all. The life we’ve lived. The words we’ve shared. The moments we’ve struggled through. I saw her with a kind of clarity I hadn’t felt in a while. Not just as a pretty woman, but as the woman God chose for me. And I thanked Him.

35 years ago today He joined us and I could not be more grateful for what He did. Happy Anniversary Kim. With my love, Brian.

Prayer

Father, thank You for how You speak through small moments. Thank You for the gift You gave me in her. You brought us together for a purpose, and I believe You are still shaping us. Help me see her the way You do. Help me love her the way You love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.