Since before we married, Bryan and I have used the phrase, ”It’s Always an Adventure”! Little did we know the adventure God had in store for us when we bought a gangly Paint, named Buddy. He was just too flashy for that, so the renaming began. After a series of ridiculous suggestions from our kids, Bryan captured my heart, when he suggested we name him “I Promise”. Soon after, we would become a blended family with 6 sons. Blind to the baggage we were both dragging along behind us, Promise was to be the reminder of not only the promises we would make to one another, but also the promises our Lord provides when we seek Him. Throughout our marriage, we periodically opened our baggage and strewed it about causing even more hurt. You see, brokenness leaves us carrying hurt our Savior never intended for us to. As we regained focus on God and raised our boys, each amazing adventure began to string moments of good together into a lifetime of love. We found the more we sought God, the load lightened and the baggage became a tool for the adventures God had planned for our lives. Our journey isn’t a perfect one, but knowing the Lord chose us to draw close to him is the reason we are able to empty our baggage of sin, fear, mistrust, unforgiveness, pride, and bitterness in front of Him, freeing us to receive His mercy and grace.
