Becoming One And...Being Full

A long time ago when our marriage was still new, I wrote an article about "Becoming One". Someday when I have a little more time, I will dig it out and reprint it, because I'm sure it was written with more thought and effort than I have to give tonight. But, for now, I'd like to do a little reflecting on the idea of two people becoming one in marriage. The original article conveyed the message that it takes time for two people from different families, backgrounds, values/belief systems, etc. to become one. It is not something that happens the moment two people say "I do". Rather, it is a process that is so amazing and beautiful, it is almost like magic. Only, it isn't magic at all. It is a work of the Holy Spirit...a beautiful evidence of the hand of God. It really is one of my favorite things to watch...the shaping and molding of two people into one. God is able to teach us (if we are teachable) so many things through marriage...He is willing to gift us with unspeakable joys and grow us in ways we never could grow on our own. I will share more on this later...but for now, let me just share a little story with you that goes along with the idea of becoming one, quite nicely, in my humble opinion.

When Tim and I were married less than a year, I opened the door to my refrigerator one morning and what to my wondering eyes did appear...but a headless, skinless squirrel soaking, uncovered in a bowl of salt water. In my refrigerator. Along with the food. That I eat. And, I am a town girl in every sense of the word. In my house, squirrels were rodents, NOT dinner! Well, needless to say, the screams could be heard for miles! I just stood there, screaming...wondering what was the matter with this person I married! Oh my word...

Fast forward fifteen and a half years...to Thanksgiving Eve, 2009



My kitchen was turned into a butcher shop, and I spent Thanksgiving Eve 2009 with my hands in a tub of freshly ground venison, helping Tim package the meat that he literally provided for our family with his own hands. The bountiful reward from a successful hunt. I wasn't screaming. In fact, I was happily working alongside him to get the job done, grateful that he was willing to provide for our family so faithfully and a little proud of him.(I'm almost like Pioneer Woman- O.K., maybe not!) It feels good to be working together with one heart and one mind, as God intended...not that we always do, but we certainly have come a long way from those early years.

And when I think of all the places we have walked together...and all the shaping and molding, breaking and rebuilding that God has done to get us here, my heart is full of thanks...

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Thanksgiving is all about focusing on our "fullness". And, I don't just mean the fullness of our bellies (which definitely applies at the Gerken household!). It's about being full...about recognizing all the ways we are filled by the faithfulness of our loving God. It is about looking back and remembering what He has done for us...and it is about looking around at all we have been given right now. It is about being thankful...for all the ways He provides, for the storms He carries us through, for the memories filling our minds, and the love held in our hearts, for the laughter and joy, for the tears He keeps in a bottle, and for the future He promises will be filled with hope and good plans for us.

What abundance we enjoy...a bounty of blessings...

I am thankful for...

our little house...

the rowdy boy sounds that fill aforementioned little house...

the tired, dirty-from-a-hard-day's-work man that will soon walk in the back door after wrestling the stinky dogs that live in the garage and faithfully guard our little house...

the dreams we dream for those who dance in heaven, the dreams that fill this little house...

the God who is served by those who live, love, and dream in this little house.