Time to walk on the water

One of the most wonderful things about being the lover of Grayms heart is the opportunity to rejoice with him through our triumphs and encourage and sustain one another through our trials. It is such a blessing to know that no matter what high or low we are experiencing or enduring, we stand by one another to encourage, support, and love. I don't think many people can say that they enjoy going through the tough times with their loved one, but I was truly blessed by what has enfolded over the weekend.

This past Friday, Graym was let go from his job at Booz Allen Hamilton. After just 5 months of employment, the company simply did not have enough work for all of their employees. Despite Grayms excellent performance and popularity among his coworkers and leads, as one of the newest contractors he was terminated simply due to lack of seniority. It was quite a shock for Graym, who had spent 3 months searching for a job and never expected that at such a young stage in his career he would feel the effects of the current economic and workforce struggles. I knew he was upset about the loss of work and having to start from the beginning, as well as concerned about maintaining himself and our relationship without an income, and after many months of learning how Graym reacts to tough situations, I had mentally prepared myself for when I would be seeing him later that evening.

If you could only have seen my face when I walked through that door to a bounding, joyful, and exuberant man with a huge smile spread across his face as he wrapped his arms around me and squeaked, "Hi baby!" I was shocked and honestly didn't know how to respond! Who is this man in front of me? What happen to who I expected to be a very grumpy Graym? I couldn't help but laugh as I asked, "What happened to you? You're so...happy!" As Graym proceeded to share the events of his day and the change in his demeanor, I was left with such a joy in my heart. God had placed such a comfort and peace over Graym that allowed him, despite the disappointment and hurt in losing his job, to see that God has complete control over this situation and wasn't about to leave him during this trial. I was so blessed by his bold faith, and was also granted another opportunity to learn Graym as he told me, "I appreciate it when you tell me that everything is going to be ok and that I need to trust God, but sometimes I need to figure it out for myself". Wow! What a heart-revealing, honest statement that reminded me once again why I love this man so much. With that in mind, I was able to look at the day in a whole new light, and was even more in awe of how he sought God in sadness and confusion, and was received into the arms of a loving, faithful, and providing God that transformed his heart and helped him to see that He would always be by his side.
 
As I reflected on the weeks end, I was left with a fond reminder of Peter as he boldly stepped out onto the waters to draw close to his Savior (Matthew14:22-33). Jesus calls out to his disciples, "Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid" and beckons Peter "Come". He steps out faithfully, but as the wind blew and the waves crashed he was struck with fear and began to sink. Jesus "immediately reach out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" In this time, how will Graym and I react? Will we step out with faith, or stumble in doubt when the rocky waters hit? It was beautiful to see the trust and faith with which Graym stepped out on Friday, and I pray that holds strong as we have just begun down the job-seeking journey once again. I also know that there will be many rocky moments that we will face throughout the course of our marriage, moments that will test our faith and may cause us to sink into the dark waters, but God is unchanging and just as He reached His hand out to Peter He will also reach out to us. How can we not be comforted knowing that our marriage is in the cup of Gods hands, constantly protected and loved?

Such a wonderful, unexpected way to end a week, huh? :) God is so good. 

And, on a more amusing note, I also told Graym that from now on if he's had a bad day I'm just gonna disappear for a few hours to let him "figure it out" so that I come home to a happy man instead ;) Just kidding!