Marriage

An Opportunity to Celebrate

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
09/17/15
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An opportunity to celebrate:

It was all planned. At the end of the school week we would pick up our son from school and drive to our holiday destination. We would have a long overdue weekend away. Away from the daily routine and the overwhelming issues we were dealing with within our extended family setting but it was not to be. Six months later, I am looking back to see what we did to commemorate:

On the last day of March, the month in which we got married 15 years ago, we went to the Ideal Home Show 2015 in London (a treat from a couple who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary). It made a perfect ending to our month of unusual celebrations.

In that month, we saw the height of being tried and tested in ways that drained us emotionally, physically and spiritually. We were in a season that placed doubts and fears in our minds and threatened the health of our marriage. However, where doubts and fears crept in, faith rose and love conquered them all. Many are facing similar disappointments where others aren't aware and may never get the opportunity to give a helping hand. Therefore, we continue to share our journey to hopefully help another couple out there.

Excitement:

We had planned on revisiting the hotel we stayed at for our honeymoon but it was being refurbished and would not be taking bookings until April. That would be the second year running we tried booking that hotel without success. We wanted to go back and allow the happy memories to help us re-focus our thoughts on the important issues and the journey we've been on.  Last year it was fully booked and this year they are refurbishing. It could be a sign not to go back but to move forward instead. Noted.

Although we couldn't stay at that particular hotel, we really wanted to go to the area to recapture some of those precious memories. So we booked the weekend at another hotel and made arrangements to meet up with a friend who lives close by. Due to our anniversary being mid-week and not having alternative childcare options we booked the weekend closest to our anniversary 6-8 March. When we got the booking confirmation my mind exclaimed, "Yes! We're going on a weekend break." I've been longing for that little break.

I spoke with the Sunday school coordinator/superintendent as we were due to teach that Sunday. He agreed to stand in for us. It was all set and we were ready for our little break.

Sickness:

I damaged my left leg during the week leading up to that weekend. I couldn't walk. It got worse the night before we were due to travel so the following morning we had to cancel the booking. I wondered if there was a lesson to learn from it all.

The entire weekend passed with me in pain. However, the Monday morning I came off the bed and was able to walk unaided. Prayers were answered as the healing power was released.

Musical March:

Despite the very disappointing results of trying to have a weekend break, it was transformed into a celebration of music.  We called it, 'Musical March'.

Our son's musical performances at the Bedfordshire, speech, drama & music Festival 2015 and the Student Concert 2015 at Greenbank were the highlighted points of the month. A different way to celebrate our anniversary. It was wonderful to see the blessings flowing from the gift that God has blessed our union with.

After the Bedfordshire music festival, we went to the Olde Watermill for lunch and the following day we picked him up after school and went back  for cream tea. We had last visited that restaurant when our son was just three years old. It was nice to bring him back as a 12 year old. It allowed us to see, in a tangible way, evidence of our journey so far. What a blessing he has been to our union!

The celebrations were put on pause to celebrate 'Mother's Day' so we purposely extended it by going into Milton Keynes the following Saturday. That trip was partially as a treat for our son and also to get a photographic memory to share with family and friends. 

An Act of Kindness:

With a week to spare in our celebratory month, I received a call with an offer of tickets to the Ideal Home Show.  A couple known to us were due to travel to the Ideal Home Show. Ironically, they too had a similar experience to us. The wife damaged her left leg and  couldn't travel. They didn't want the tickets to go to waste and I'm so glad they thought of us. God was at work on our behalf.

Fortunately, my husband had booked the last two days of March and the first day of April as annual leave. The plan was for us to visit a family member who was celebrating a milestone birthday. Some issues came up during the arrangements which involved old hurts that hadn't been dealt with and suddenly we were no longer travelling.

"First, the hotel not being available, next due to illness we weren't able to attend our second choice hotel which meant we wouldn't be able to see our friend and now we won't be seeing the family members we were hoping to see. What's going on!" Those were my thoughts at the time when I received that call.  Just when it seemed all was doom and gloom God's presence was felt and we were reminded of Philippians 4:8.

We accepted the tickets and turned those negative feelings around. We had a wonderful family day out at the Ideal Home Show. I was so glad we were able to do something positive to add to our journey, rather than spend the time drowning in our sorrow.

The journey continues in 'Happy Ever After': http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=179911