As another milestone ends, college, I see a path beginning to set before me.
Over the past year I have transitioned to becoming a wife, an aunt, and now a college graduate.
This has led to fulfillment, confusion, and joy.
Being married has been the most joyful, profound decision of my life. Damen is beyond anything I would have expected. Somehow I find myself surprised that he still chooses to love me in my selfish, ungrateful moments. I'm surprised when he shows me how Jesus loves me.
He has led me to find a deeper love within Jesus.
I'm surprised how much Jesus loves us in our filth.
I find myself looking at people everyday and wondering how to love them. It's selfish, I know, but loving people who are not like you is hard. I find a need to understand people who are different from me, but at the same time I hear Jesus whispering, "just love them, Katie".
And I try.
Damen is so much better at this than me.
I love that he is my husband because he continually points me back to Christ without even realizing he's doing it. His actions speak volumes.
So I'm here, being a wife.
Being a wife is fun, too. But serving him is hard sometimes. Selfishness does seep through.
But how grace comes shining through.
Still, joy.
Joy is what I feel everyday. Joy is how I see the world around me, because I know His plan.
His plan for redemption, His plan to pursue and love us until the day He comes back to be with us again.
Joy. I hope it's what my husband sees when he walks into our home, when he thinks of me, and when he thinks of how blessed we are.
Joy. I hope it's what my best friends feel everyday. That the world doesn't weigh them down, that Jesus remains on their hearts.
Joy. It's what I hold true in my heart. It's the only strength I have.
I realize sometimes that I'm walking a path that's different from my friends and family. I do not really seek out who I am anymore. I just know who I am in Him. It's a blessing to realize everyday that I am not alone and when things go wrong, they will get better. He will make all things work together for my good.
In the mean time, I will tell anyone who will listen that the JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH.
