Our anniversary

Six years ago, we chose commitment.
Two children of divorce, one leap
of well-considered faith in each other
and God. Our vows were promises
to do it differently, stay yoked
in our hearts and our bodies
no matter what comes at us.

Some days it's a charmed life
full of laughter and unexpected joy;
others we pace in separate corners
fighting the urge to pounce, destroy,
arise victorious from petty slights grown
into monsters on our tired shoulders.

Marriage is hard, dirty, exhausting work
but it has brought an emotional
and spiritual growth I couldn't fathom
when viewing it from the outside.
Children of divorce can't carry faith
in the institution and idea of marriage,
that bond that broke a family
once already in our short lives.

Yet growing together in this marriage
has taught me to keep trying,
to forgive, look deeper, and trust
that our commitment to each other
is a strong and precious truth.

Thank you for giving me that,
and for these six years together.

***This post is part of Six Word Fridays and Bigger Picture Moments.***