May 23 marked the second anniversary of our marriage. Whew, that came fast!
It feels like just yesterday I was challenging the cute, blonde worship leader in ping pong at the Baptist Student Ministry and wondering “what if?”
Shortly after celebrating our first year of marriage, which I reflected on around this time last year, we initiated our second year of marriage in a new townhouse, in a new city, in a new state, where we knew absolutely no one.
As we departed from Texas, many wise friends encouraged us by saying, “Moving away from family and comfort will surely make your marriage stronger!”
And boy, were they right.
We have learned to lean on one another through challenging days at work, striving to learn the Greek language (Matt, not me), coming to grips that making friends and building relationships doesn’t come as easy as it did in college, and so much more.
Since I’m doing the writing, I get to brag on my husband. He has completed 10 classes since we moved here last June. He has mastered working from home and gives 110% at his full-time job. He plays guitar and keyboard in ministry every chance he gets. And, to top it off, when I’m being needy and want his attention, he drops everything and gives it to me (even when I don’t deserve it).
This second year of marriage has been full of new challenges, new lessons and new blessings. I have no doubt that year three will be just the same, in that sense. It’s how we learn and grow, after all.
I’m grateful to stand alongside Matt in this journey. We celebrated with a trip to the Bahamas and are now settled back in for another beautiful summer in Louisville.
Here’s my question for you as we tackle another year in Louisville: Should you aim to build strong, close friendships when you know your time in a place is only temporary? Why or why not? (Feel free to answer in the comments below. We love hearing our loved ones’ advice and wisdom!)
And in case you’ve never seen our wedding video, here it is!
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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Hey I think you should have close relationships with friends. You never know who’s heart you may touch. Take our friendship for example. I have only known you for a few years, but you made a huge impact on my life and were and still are always there when I need to talk. Even though you are miles away we still make it work. God puts people in your life for a special reason and you never know how much you can change a person’s life or walk with Christ by building a firm friendship with them. I love having you by my side Leah.
Very, very true. Thanks for sharing. I love friendships like ours!
You should absolutely strive to build lasting relationships, even in temporary settings.
A) You don’t know for sure how long God has you there.
B) You never know who God is going to use to bless you, and if you shut the door to those relationships then you could miss out on potential blessings.
C) We’re called to be in a community of believers. Growth happens exponentially faster in good soil, and your faith “family” can come alongside you and Matt and really help your marriage and friendships grow even more.
D) Life is just more fun with friends!
E) If nothing else, networking can take you places you couldn’t have otherwise imagined.
I’ve been in Jacksonville two years now, a place I never thought I’d live and certainly not where I planned on putting down roots. But the more I’ve let down my walls and put myself out there, the more I’ve been blessed. God could take me away from here tomorrow, but I’m convinced the relationships I’ve built here will last a life time.
Also think about college. We all knew we’d spend four or so years (or in my case six) at Commerce and then move on, but we all gladly invested in each other despite knowing it would eventually come to an end. And because we all put ourselves out there and invested in each other, I know at least 20 people that I could call right now if I needed something. So go build relationships! It doesn’t matter if you’re there another two years or two decades. You guys need friends!
Very true. I had no idea you’d be in Jacksonville that long either! It really seems to have grown on you and looks like you are really enjoying it. I appreciate your thoughts and wisdom from your life lessons. Thanks for sharing, Cooper!
-Leah
Always try to make friends wherever you live, no matter how long you are there! You never know when you might meet up with those people again, later in life. Plus, it gives you a connection to that time and place in your life that no one else will understand. Most friendships will fall by the wayside with time, but occasionally you find that one special friend that will stick with you forever. Not as close as your mother mind you, lol. Love you!
True! Matt needs all the pastoral friends he can make.
p.s. we are making friends, these questions are just fun to get perspectives on.
Leah, you never know when the initiative you take will turn a seemingly passing acquaintance into a close, lifetime friend. Distance and even periods of non-communication don’t sever that kind of bond–it’s a spiritual thing. I have a friendship like that memorialized in hundreds of letters. It began when I, at age nineteen, took the initiative; and that bond continues in spite of a 27 year age difference and a thousand plus miles. There is just one caveat, “When you give your time to someone, you are giving that person your life.”–a quote from my lifetime friend.
Great point. What a wonderful friendship that is! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Aunt Dianne 🙂
-Leah