"For this reason..."

I (Brett) am glad that my wife set this blog up. She has mentioned the idea of setting up a blog before, but for whatever reason it's been slow going. Maybe our schedule has something to do with that? I don't know. I hope that you, the readers, enjoy keeping up with some of the recent events in our new life as a married couple. I know we're certainly excited to see how the Lord writes out our story.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from Genesis 2:24. It reads: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." I remember hearing so many sermons on this passage at weddings and church services, but more importantly I remember reading this passage to myself a few years ago. As I read over these words, I couldn't help but wonder what this act of leaving family to be joined to a woman really looked like or better yet, felt like. I read this passage over and over always praying that God would place that beautiful bride-to-be in my life. And when He did, I also prayed that I would be strong enough of a man to treat her with not my own love, but His love.

So much has taken place between when Kelcey and I first met and where we are now. We went through what seemed like perfect times, difficult times, and even what we thought would be impossible times, but I know our dependence upon the Lord made all the difference in the world. Without Him we wouldn't have made it through 250 miles of separation or spiritually exhausting days. No matter what Satan seemed to throw our way we were able to stay strong and persevere. After two-plus years of an amazing courtship, I asked her to marry me and by-golly she said yes!

It was at that point in my life that I returned to this passage in Genesis yet again. This time, instead of reading Genesis 2:24 with complete uncertainty of who this bride was going to be I now had a very special person to bring light to this passage. Everything was starting to make sense. Everything started to take shape. Everything became very scary as well! I started to think about what this passage was saying and the importance of its command. This verse comes from one of the most important stories known to man. God just made Eve from Adam's rib! Adam went through a vigorous process of naming all the creatures of the earth and after that had been completed he realized there was no suitable helper for him so God said "I'll change that." Then God made Eve from Adam and brought Eve to Adam. They were one flesh! I couldn't think of a better way to explain what I had found in this love of my life. Throughout four years of getting to know each other and developing romantic connections, I felt just like Adam. The feelings I had for her started to take incredibly deep roots. When she hurt, I hurt. When she was glad, I was glad. When someone did something to her, I felt as if the same thing was being done unto me. I couldn't believe how deeply in love with this woman I had become. I started to realize and believe with all my heart that God hand-crafted Kelcey to suit every viable need of mine just as Eve was suitable for Adam. My thinking started to shift. I started seeing her as apart of me and believed it to be my job to leave my family in order to provide for her needs. Through this beautiful act of love, I finally understood Genesis 2:24.

Four months ago, I made a commitment to my bride, to my Lord and Savior, and to my family and her's that I would literally become one with her and give her only what the Lord had intended for her. Is that an incredibly demanding job sometimes? You bet, but one that I'm fully aware of and willing to commit to. This feeling of supporting her, loving her, taking care of her every need, it's not a burden, it's what I live for. So might I conclude with this: "What God has brought together, let no man separate."--Mark 10:9