We were lucky enough to get seats in the third row. Right there up front, with thousands of people behind us. Compared to some of the couples there we were still newlyweds. We sat there on the third row, hand-in-hand, completely in love, and ready to soak up every detail of A Weekend to Remember.
The Professor and me with Family Life founder and President, Dennis Rainey
That was four years ago today, Valentine’s Day, 2009. Looking back on A Weekend to Remember, there are a lot of details I don’t remember.
I remember that the hotel was exquisitely beautiful. I remember that we enjoyed a fancy dinner out (compliments of my aunt who has a knack for spoiling her nieces and nephews). I remember that our best friends were there and they had car problems so we provided last minute taxi services for them.
But from all of the sessions, all of the hours upon hours of discussions and advice from marriage experts, I remember just one thing.
This little nugget of wisdom has stuck with us for four years:
View your partner as a hand-picked gift from God.
Remember the verse in Matthew, when Jesus says that our Heavenly Father gives good gifts?
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11)
God doesn’t just hand out crummy gifts to His children. Jesus told us that our Father gives good and perfect gifts.
I’ve taken that to heart. When things aren’t the way I wish they were, I remember that my husband is a gift from my Heavenly Father. When life in general, and marriage in particular, fails to meet my somewhat tainted expectations, I remember that The Professor is gift from my heavenly Father. And my Father gives good gifts.
The Professor – he’s a gift. And a treasure.
Download #PrayerDare cards here.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Are you ready to be an inspiration? (To find out the purpose of this community, please read this post.)
- Please visit the others who link up and leave kind, encouraging words for them. This is about encouraging, inspiring, and building up one another.
- If you tweet about linking up, please use the hashtag #desiretoinspire so we can find each other.
- Link up your own quality, read-worthy posts.
- Focus on how you can be an inspiration, not what inspires you.
- You do not have to follow ARD, but of course I’d love it if you would.
- Link up your specific posts, not your blog’s homepage.
- Please do not link up giveaways, blog/social media hops, or shops.
- Please link back to A Royal Daughter in your post (using the button below, or a text link back) or add this linky party to your linky party list.
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.aroyaldaughter.com/category/desire-to-inspire/" title="A Royal Daughter"><img src="http://www.aroyaldaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Desire-to-Inspire-Button.png" alt="A Royal Daughter" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Blogging Goals with Dannette Dillon
Connect on Facebook
ARD: When did you first set goals for your blog? How do you hold yourself accountable to accomplish those goals?
DD: I set goals for this year at the beginning of the year. I wrote them down in my blog journal and then I check at the end of each month to make sure I’m meeting those goals. It takes work to reach goals especially when it comes to pageviews. Ultimately, for me anyway, the goal is to work hard and to impact lives. If that’s happening I’m successful.
Latest posts by Amanda (see all)
- Desire to Inspire #35: Community - May 23, 2013
- In the Midst of the Storm - May 22, 2013
- Waiting - May 21, 2013
Such an important thing to remember. My husband’s name actually means “gift from God”.
Linking up for the first time today.
Thank you for the opportunity.
That’s so great, Liz! You have a daily reminder to treasure the gift that he is! Thanks for linking up!
Hi Amanda, those photos are beautiful
thank you again for the opportunity to link up. Tara (The Proverbs 31 Sanctuary)
Thanks Tara! So glad you linked up again!
Thank you so much for hosting and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Thanks Sarah! I hope your day is special!
Lovely photos and what a great sentiment to have. MHI is obviously a blessing to me but occasionally he drives me a bit nuts too
It’s easy to forget the good stuff sometimes.
Thanks for hosting !
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
Thanks Sarah! The Professor can drive me nutso too. But at the end of the day I try to remember that he’s a treasure! Quirks and all.
Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you have a happy weekend. Isn’t it great how God helps us filter out what we don’t necessarily need anymore, but still makes sure we hold on to the things we’ll need forever? Thank you for giving me a phrase to remember when the times get tough. So very blessed to be with the one God hand-picked for me!
I’m hosting my Homemaking Linkup Weekend and would love to have you join, if you’d like!
Have a great day!
Mrs. Sarah Coller
http://www.hopeineveryseason.com
https://www.facebook.com/hopeineveryseasonblog
That’s a great perspective, Mrs. Sarah! I’ve often lamented the fact that I don’t remember anything else from that weekend! But obviously this was the lesson I was supposed to learn!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day my dear! I hope it’s special for you!
Thanks for this – sad as it sounds, I rarely think of my husband as a gift to me…..it is so easy to be frustrated by the little things that happen or don’t happen in our daily life. I was in need of this perspective and reminder. Hope all of you fellow PrayerDare ladies (and everyone else!) have a great Valentines Day celebrating the ones you love!
Hi Lynne – thanks for your honesty. There are definitely times when I don’t view The Professor as a gift either. We’re certainly FAR from perfect. But I do try to keep this perspective even in the though times. Some gifts take work to maintain and keep in working order, right? I guess husbands fall into that category!
This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing about how our marriage almost fell apart. But God saved us. And we learned a little bit more about the mystery that Paul speaks of in Ephesians. Thanks for the opportunity to link up.
Wow, Anne! I’m sure that is going to encourage SO many people! I’m headed over to check it out. (And I have a friend I’ll be sharing it with!)
what a beautiful post and such great reminders!!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
Thanks Sandy! It always makes me happy when you leave a comment. You know, comments from BIG TIME bloggers are always appreciated!
I reminded daily that my husband is a gift. there is no reason we should still be together based on fleshly standards. but we are, we are happy and SO in love and i thank God often for the amazing gift of my husband!
AMEN – a successful marriage + a good perspective is ALWAYS the work of the Lord!