I Pray For You

Brad,

I used to pray for you.

When I was in middle school, and girls and boys started really noticing each other, I prayed for you. When boys and girls started standing next to each other's lockers, writing notes to each other, and swaying together at the school dances, I prayed for you.  In a girly, hormonal, dramatic way, I prayed for a love that would fulfill me.  (Man, do I dread my daughters growing up...) :)

In high school I prayed for you.  I prayed that a boy, THE boy, would look into my heart and soul and see the things that made me the person that I am, and love me for those things.  There were others that I thought might be you.  But they never were.  After all, there is only one you.

And as I got older I prayed for you still.  I had learned that no person besides yourself can define you, or give you worth.  I had learned that my own self-focused needs and desires aren't the center of the world (or my relationship with God) and I prayed for you.  I prayed that you were happy...this person that would one day be a huge part of my life.  I prayed that you were holding fast to your morals and values throughout the high school and college temptations that would come up around you.  I prayed that you were happy and filling your life with experiences and joy that would make your life rich and fulfilling and ready to be meshed with mine one day.

And then I met you.

And married you.

And created a family with you.

And my life could not possibly be better balanced without you in it.  You make me laugh when I am crabby.  You help me focus.  You hold me up when I am weak.  You encourage me to be a better person.

And while we are two completely different people, we fit together as one.  

I still pray for you.  I still pray that you are happy, that you hold fast to your morals and values, that you are filling your life with experiences and joy that make your life rich and fulfilling.  I pray that you are happy you meshed your life with mine.  And I pray that the three years of dating and ten years of marriage that we've had together are just the beginning.

Happy 10-Year Anniversary!