Transparency In Difficult Seasons
Real talk family. It feels like a long time since we last wrote. Truth be told, it has been entirely too long. I thought I would break my silence and share a story that’s still being written on my heart. I won’t recap the time the room went dark allowing me to see the man I considered a close friend and confidant as a man I could love and trust with my heart. We began what I later wrote as our blended family. I’ve been thinking a lot about our marriage and family lately, especially since June. In fact, our conversation this morning was affirming how difficult times do not define us, our marriage, our happiness, or our family. Our love is stronger than that. This is why I sat in my office chair this morning poised to share my ugly truth with this one note to encourage others, our love story continues.
Many people welcome a new year with great anticipation and excitement. For me, for 2026, I expected a difficult season. I began the year bracing myself for the challenges disturbing my peace. Issues were widespread throughout key areas of living. Health, finances, business, and relationship issues began affecting my day-to-day. This resulted in uncontrolled anxiety.
Allow me to dispel one of the enemy’s most believed lies. Living our truth authentically, even transparently, does not give a negative situation power or minimize our faith walk. I long believed anything short of perfect was failure and that struggle was weakness and anxiety showed a lack of faith. But God used my child, my oldest daughter, to show me how God is glorified in everything when we trust Him.
Nacole had brain surgery. If you know me, you know that I have debilitating chronic migraines. And while my migraines have significantly impacted my quality of life, they don’t hold a candle to the havoc a brain tumor can cause in one’s life. Truth be told, Nacole handled the news concerning her tumor better than me. In fact, she managed every aspect of its existence considerably better than me. There have been many times I asked God why something was happening to me. I even had the nerve to ask “why me, Lord?” concerning Nacole’s tumor.
I asked God “why?” after a tear-filled conversation during which Nacole shared that she was scared. But as I watched my child courageously make plans for her young children, my beautiful grandchildren, prepare meals, work, and try to manage every task and last detail up to the midnight hour before her hospitalization (as was Nacole’s normal routine to manage her demanding career, school-age children, homework, extra-curricular activities, and her role as a wife). She even made time to organize a friend group to make it easier for me to update everyone on her progress and recovery. The group was one of the ways God used to teach me the lesson I learned and decided to share with you today.
Those who knew of Nacole’s situation was also privy to seeing God at work. It was here that the Holy Spirit gently taught me that God’s love, faithfulness, goodness, and grace is made known through our valley experiences as well as our mountaintop victories. Without effort or pretense, Nacole consistently witnessed to me. Not because she hid her vulnerability, but because she openly shared what she was facing with others.
My prayer is that we all understand that God is glorified through His presence and strength in the midst of our troubles and seasons of difficulty - not the absence or denial of them.
Now join me in this praise break. I thank God for the successful removal of Nacole’s tumor, her healing, her circle of family and friends to support her, for her own personal, relationship with God, and her continuing walk with Him. Hallelujah! To God be the glory.
Promise To Love
Real talk family. Traditional wedding vows are beautiful but most of the familiar wedding vow language ("for better, for worse," "for richer, for poorer," etc.) is not quoted directly from Scripture. Traditional vows were developed over centuries by the Church to summarize biblical principles of covenant marriage. In fact, before wedding ceremonies, wedding bands, and traditional vows, Scripture gave couples a blueprint for what covenant love should look like.
A good example of a marital Foundational Biblical Principle (FBP) is Genesis 2:24 (NIV) "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." This is a promise to leave and cleave. It places the marital relationship as of greater priority than the relationship between parent in child(ren). Don’t misunderstand. There is great responsibility in becoming a parent. But as an adult, when you marry, you build a new family identity with your spouse. This vow is about prioritizing one another above all else, second to God alone. Because we’ve worked with many couples, we can attest that unhealthy boundaries or out-of-order relationships leads to great dysfunction and unnecessary marital strain.
Other biblical guidance for couples include Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." This is one of my favorites and is relevant to both spouses. This guidance ensures that personal selfishness does not lead to any marital mistreatment but totally opposite of that. This promise is sacrificial love. This guidance also includes acts of service, generous giving, and unconditional love. In my opinion, all the other vows can hang on this one scripture along - or better, for worse," "for richer, for poorer,” “in sickness, in health”, everything you say from traditional vows or vows you write for yourself.
And let’s not forget Romans 12:10 (NIV) "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Honor influences so many aspects of our marriages including communication, conflict resolution, affection, and relationship behaviors. Many marriages didn’t end because love faded away but more because honor disappeared. Remember, love cannot be a fleeting emotion. You must choose to love, remain committed, and honor your vows (did you see my wordplay there?).
God’s Word is true, pure, and complete. Scripture even gave a roadmap for intimacy when we consider Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure..." I personally feel this is a promise to protect our covenant emotionally, spiritually, physically, and sexually. It includes protecting ourselves and guarding our marriages. Faithfulness is more than just avoiding physical infidelity. It also represents emotional loyalty and connection.
And while there are many others to explore on your own, I’ll close with Colossians 3:13 (NIV) "Bear with each other and forgive one another..." Forgiveness protects the covenant from bitterness. Remember that there is only one who is perfect. His name is Jesus (not whatever your spouse is named!). We must practice grace, and forgiveness, first with our spouses, then everyone else. God’s Word teaches us that we all will experience trouble. Life is full of trouble. Marriages will experience trouble. But be encouraged. Christ overcame the world. We are overcomers too. Consider for a moment what God’s forgiveness has done for you. It redeemed you. Put you back in covenant with God. It released you from living in condemnation. It met you in your dirt and made you white as snow. No record or scorekeeping, just love. Do you see where I’m going with this. Think how much true forgiveness could change your marriage.
There is so much more. Search the scriptures. Don’t settle for just traditional vows. Again, there is so much more. I’ll leave you with this - Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Keep God in your marriage and take each day as a new opportunity to glorify HIM with your covenant. Love and blessings, j&c
To Love and To Cherish Til Death Do Us Part
Real talk family. There are many sacred promises hidden inside our traditional wedding vows. One of the most emotional moments for me is when I hear the couple promise “To love and to cherish, till death do us part” Often times, these words indicate we are coming to the end of the ceremony. But not before couples solidify their covenant, for a lifetime, in front of witnesses.
The magitude of our vows normally causes guest to grow quiet. People smile through tears as everyone anticipates the beauty of forever. “To love and to cherish, till death do us part” are promises meant to shape how people live, love, forgive, connect, and remain faithful to one another in their marriage for a lifetime. These words actually are evidence that love was never meant to be casual. As shared in one of my previous blogs, love should not be treated like a feeling that comes and goes. Emotions are too fleeting for that. When emotions are high, love feels easy until life becomes stressful. In fact, some people begin questioning whether love still exists at all when relationships require patience, sacrifice, and growth.
Review all of your vows again. Our traditional vows teaches us that marriage is not sustained by attraction or emotion. Covenant love was never meant to be casual, temporary, or shallow. Our vows share a promise of permanence, security, intimacy, and lasting connection. In fact, research from The Gottman Institute consistently shows that stable commitment strengthens trust, communication, and long-term relationship satisfaction.
Pray with me. Our father. Help us to love each other deeply, intentionally, and faithfully. Help us never treat our marriage casually or neglect the gift of one another’s presence. Show us how to cherish our spouse with patience, kindness, affection, honor, and grace. Strengthen our commitment through every season and help our love reflect safety, joy, loyalty, and covenant. Help our marriage be a reflection of you. Amen.