June 21st, it’s the first day of summer.  It’s also our anniversary, and this year we celebrated 53 years of marriage.   We went to the beach for the day and had a wonderful time together holding hands and enjoying each other.  It was one of those rare perfect days at the Oregon coast when the sky was crystal clear blue, and the fog didn’t roll in at 4 o’clock like usual.  Ahhh, summer!

Those beautiful days when the sun is shining and my garden is in full bloom are a delight to the soul. But there have been many days in my life when a dark cloud of trouble or despair hung heavily over me, and it felt that it would never end.  My marriage has not always been a joy and a delight.  My husband and I are very different and have very strong personalities, which results in clashes of opinion and heated arguments.  Can any of you relate?

In those times when the struggles, strife, anger, and tension come in our lives, what are we to do?  Give up?  Throw in the towel? Become bitter and hateful?  Well, those are options, but maybe not the best choices.

There have been times earlier in our relationship, when I have wanted to throw in the towel, times when I was desperate.  But my commitment to my marriage vows and to God kept we crying out to God for help and answers.  And as I did that, God gradually changed me, and he changed my husband, as he cried out to God as well.  There was no instant change, but God worked His amazing grace in our lives and changed us to be more quick to repent and say “I’m sorry”, to be more forgiving, more kind, more loving, less angry and resentful.

As a result, we have grown to have a happy and loving relationship, because we didn’t give up when it got tough, and God answered our prayers.  So I encourage you, for the sake of your marriage and for the sake of your kids, to keep praying and press on.  The effort it worth it!

My garden looks brown and barren in the winter, no signs of life.  But when spring comes, little green shoots appear, which rapidly grown into larger plants.  And then flowers begin to bloom.  And by the first day of summer, my garden is full of beautiful with blossoms that you could never have imagined in the winter.

So if your relationship is in the winter right now, dig out your sins, fertilize with prayer and love, plant some kindness and generous forgiveness, and after a season, you will have a beautiful garden of love to enjoy.