My husband (Mark) and I will be celebrating 16 years of marriage next Friday. Every anniversary has become a special day for us, because we almost ended it at number three. I would like to celebrate my marriage with you, by telling you our love story.
We fell in love in church; we grew in love in prison.
Mark and I met in church and fell in love fast. From the time of our first date until our wedding day was seven months. It was the most romantic courtship I had ever been a part of. The wedding was perfect with just the right amount of funny mistakes. The first year of marriage was going well, but the second year things changed.
Falling in love is wonderful until you begin to stumble and trip over each other. Life is not always perfect and neither is marriage. What a disappointment that was to Mark and I. In that second year we were falling apart and not falling in love anymore. The day came when my husband decided we needed to separate. I was full of anger and hurt. He was full of disappointment, guilt, and discouragement. The situation drew me back to my loving God, but it turned Mark away from Him.
We had been separated for nine months when the Lord spoke to my heart that Mark was in serious trouble. I had not spoken to my husband in several months, but God used the unity of marriage to let me know Mark needed prayer. My pastor and I prayed one Sunday that God would do whatever it took to bring Mark back to Him. Three days later my husband was arrested. I knew God had heard our prayers. He gently spoke to my heart, “Rest in me. Do not abandon Mark. I will heal him and your marriage. This is your time to stand firm in Me.” I made the commitment right then to stay in my marriage.
I wish I could tell you I never had any doubt or thoughts of leaving. When these doubts came God would always remind me, “Cheryl, if I can part the Red Sea, I can save a marriage.”
October 3rd Mark and I will celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. I can proclaim to you that God did exactly what He said He would do. Mark and I grew in love sitting in the visiting room of a Federal Corrections Institution. He has become the husband that God knew I needed. Mark is the man I can cry and laugh with. The man I can share my sorrows and joys with. Mark is now the man that God created for Cheryl. AND Cheryl has become the woman God created for Mark.
Psalms 20: 5 says, “We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.” The banner Mark and I will lift says, "Glory to God. He is the Healer of our Marriage."
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5 comments:
When we know that we know we have direction from God and we are obedient to Him, we are victorious! It pleases Him for His children to hear His voice and obey.
He takes ashes and makes something beautiful. Isaiah 61:3
1 Cor 15:10
Thanks for sharing your story. There is freedom in sharing; there is encouragement in sharing; there is building of one's faith in sharing.
I know both Mark and Cheryl's story well because I am Mark's mother and Cheryl's mother-in-law. Every word of their love story is true and has been an inspiration to all that followed their journey and prayed for a happy ending. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways. Happy 16th wedding anniversary Mark and Cheryl. I love you both.
hi cheryl,
congratulations to you and your beloved mark on your 16th wedding anniversary. i'm happy for you :o)
to God be the glory for you and your husband staying the course through the difficult years. it was unclear to me, but is your husband still incarcerated?
Mrs. Maverick-
Yes, my husband is still inside. He will be moving to a half-way house in June of 2009. This will give him the chance to work and visit home. Then he will be home full-time in December of 2009.
We are so excited and ready for him to home. Thanks for asking.
I think that I could learn alot from you and your steadfast devotion to a man who is incarcerated.
You have a humble and obedient heart and I am blessed to call you sister and friend.
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