By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka
What am I married to?
I mean, yeah, I’m very happily married to my husband of nineteen years. No regrets there.
But, if an outsider were to peek in on my daily living, what might they see as my groom? What do I devote time, attention and emotion to?
Is it busy-ness? That hurry-up, hectic pace that kids and family schedules keep me on?
Is it keeping the house clean?
Nah. Too much dust for that scenario.
What are my heart, my soul, my spirit married to?
I want to be devoted to God. To finding the wonder of Him in my every day. Taking time to marvel at colored leaves, a sunset, glimpses of His fingerprints on my life.
How do I spend my time? What would an outsider see . . . peeking into my life?
I spend time on my computer—reading blogs, and writing. If someone watched me for a day, would they conclude that a screen is where I spend my love?
What does my perspective reveal about my attachments? Am I seeking God—to see life through His lens—or am I glimpsing situations through my own finger-printed focus?
How do I respond when the hard things come? Do I still choose love when someone hurts me . . . repeatedly? Do I love that person like Jesus does because that’s what God asks me to do?
Or do I withdraw in hurt?
When hard things like cancer, heartache, heartbreak and loss come . . . do I lean into God as the leader of our relationship, trusting Him to strengthen me through difficult seasons?
Or do I muscle up and try to deal with it on my own?
What am I married to?
Do I rely on my own strength, my knowledge to get me through each day?
Part of a marriage is depending on and trusting each other. What does my life reveal about me?
As I consider all these questions, I’m challenged to evaluate where my heart is. Like it or not, what comes from my heart reveals what I’m married to—through my words, interactions, decisions and choices.
I fall short in living the life of a bride of Christ many moments of my days. Thankfully, God is patient and quick to forgive when I fail. His mercies are new every morning.
Each morning, I get to choose where I focus my heart. Whether on the circumstances and tasks demanding my attention, or on being sensitive to the Lord’s promptings. When I am still, I often hear His whispers guiding my feet through the day.
When I live humble—when I live with my ears open to His voice—an outsider looking in will see that I am married to Jesus. He is the groom I hope people see when they peek into my life.
What about you? What would someone see as most important to you if they peeked into your life? How do you keep your priorities straight?
Jeanne Takenaka 
Lovely post!
On the subject of withdrawing from those who return love with hurt…remember that Jesus told His disciples to shake off the dust of the places that rejected His word, as a testimony against them.
You truly LIVE Christ’s love, Jeanne, and I think you might take that bit of Scripture to heart, in those cases. Those who are rejecting you reject Him who sent you.
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Andrew, thanks for the encouraging words. I know there are times to shake the dust off, but God’s also put me in situations where He calls me to love in spite of . . . So, I’m learning to live it out well. And you’re right—it’s ultimately not me they reject; it’s Jesus.
Thank you.
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Your photos are wonderful! Writing is opening your eyes to see more and more in every area! Bless you! Your blog is beautiful! Thanks!
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Thanks, Mom. I hadn’t put those pieces together before. But it does seem like when we are creative in one venue our hearts are attuned to God’s creativity in other facets of life. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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“I fall short in living the life of a bride of Christ many moments of my days.” Jeanne, you described me. A friend once said how being married to the Lord was so comforting after her first husband committed suicide. I need to remember that. Sometimes being single can really drag down feelings of self-worth. Lovely post.
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Terri, I love the picture your single friend shared with you. I want to remember that. Ultimately, we’re each married to Jesus. And thank you for the reminder to be sensitive to my friends who are single and pray about how to encourage them to see the worth they have in Jesus’ eyes.
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Such a sweet reminder, Jeanne, to keep our priorities. When I saw the waves … I thought of how they can come in and sweep us away or threaten to. But the Lord keeps us grounded.
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You’re so right, Shelli. Life’s waves do threaten to sweep us away. Thank goodness God is there to hold us and ground us. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Jeanne, I’m glad I stopped by to allow these waves of wisdom and beauty to wash over my spirit. And now I’m pondering your questions. My morning quiet time is probably my most important way of setting priorities. If I can start the day with Jesus, then I’m more likely to finish the day with Him too. I need Him every hour.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
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I’m with you, Wendy. When I begin my day with a quiet time, or spend some time with Jesus after I drop the kids off at school, I tend to feel a little more peaceful, and sensitive to His presence. I loved what you said: If you can start the day with Jesus, you’re more likely to finish the day with Him too. Love that!
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God’s being really focusing my heart on priorities lately…choosing Him amongst all the other things I chased. I enjoyed reading your words because well, it’s always nice to know we’re not the only one AND because it’s so true that we get caught up in things that really shouldn’t steal our valuable time over the One who values our time. Thanks for sharing, Jeanne…great photos too!
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I am so thankful for our patient God, who redirects us when we need it. I loved what you said: “we get caught up by things that really shouldn’t steal our valuable time over the One who values our time.” I never thought about God valuing our time before. Thanks for that!
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I feel like we’re both writing from the same place of busyness, longing for a heart that’s quiet and thrills at the touch of the Lord. I’ll be praying for you this week as I also bring my harried heart to God. May we find peace and stillness in His presence.
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Thank you in advance for those prayers, Asheritah. I’ll be praying for you, too. 🙂 Yes, peace and stillness in God’s presence . . . always a good thing.
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