My Covenant

I've been reading through the book For Women Only - what you need to know about the inner lives of men. It has been made into a Bible Study that I am also working through on Wednesday mornings with about 30 other women. We come from all walks, married & unmarried, with & without kids, newlyweds & married for over 25 years. Our discussions are lively and honest. Today, we talked about sex. Yep, I said it - it was more than just pillow talk, ladies. But what I took away and wanted to ponder this week was the aspect that my marriage is a covenant not a contract. Contracts are written up & the legal jargon usually pertains to "you uphold your end and we'll uphold our end". A covenant is a formal, binding promise made between 2 people under seal. It sounds so very royal and yet isn't that the picture we should have of what our relationship with God AND our marriage? God has made it very clear that He has given us a relationship that is a covenant. He doesn't make a contract with His children - if you obey me I will bless you. You screw up and I will blast you. You don't respect me, I'm outta here and good luck in eternity! No, He makes it very clear that He is a God of grace and mercy, a fierce God of justice and a God of love. God also expects marriage to be a covenant - a promise that no matter what happens, there will be a tomorrow. I have not been married for a long time but I do feel that T and I have weathered some amazing storms in the past few years. God has been faithful AND just to give us blessings and allow us trials. Never have I ever felt that my relationship with Tracy was in jeopardy because I screwed up or didn't meet his expectations. We have a marriage covenant. That being said, I need to remember not to turn our daily lives into a contract arrangement. I cannot put conditions on my actions, on my emotions, on our commitment. We are not currently struggling with marital spats but boy do they hit me between the eyes when I least expect them. I am praying this week that I remember my relationship with my husband needs to be a reflection of the relationship that I have with God. Unconditionally loving, self-sacrificing, laying down of my pride and stubbornness, letting go of control and taking time to be with the one I adore.