Today is the 4th wedding anniversary for my Bride and I.  And we have been a couple for just over 7 years.

My wife asked me the other day if I remember what it felt like to hold her hand for the very first time.  (I do.  It was right after we started courting.  We were going to a church to play volleyball, and right outside just before we went in we stopped to pray together asking God to establish our relationship in a Godly and Christ-honoring way.  As we prayed, we held hands.  I felt a rush of adrenaline and ecstacy.  I was terrifyingly excited.  It was great!) 

Immediately following that question, she then lightheartedly asked me if I still get the warm, fuzzy feelings inside whenever I hold her hand.

I told her no.

She gave me a half-smiled gasp.  I went on to say that I really do not feel the same scary and adrenaline-pumping excitement whenever I grab her hand, but I feel something much, much better.

I truly enjoyed that original feeling of the “warm-fuzzies”, and it was all very special.  But it is not love.  It never lasts, nor idoes it need to, nor is it supposed to.  If our love and relationship is based off of those sensational feelings, then we are in big trouble.

I explained to my wife that whenever I hold her hand now, I feel comfortable, safe, and a kind of deep, contented joy that one can only have after 7 plus years in a committed, caring, and fulfilling relationship of true love.

So, it is true that I have lost the “beginning-of-the-relationship feelings” that make me all gittery inside, but what I have gained not only is better, but far out weighs those superficial emotions.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am seriously attracted to my wife (spiritually, personally, and physically).  She still lights me up.  She still thrills me.  She still can take my breath away.  She still makes me gaze at her with wonder.  But the point is that all of these feelings are stronger and deeper and built on truth and real experience.

The emotions/feelings/affections/attractions that I have for my wife now are deeper and more solid than ever before, because they are based on real, experiential knowledge of her active, commited, and caring love for me.

Every year of our marriage (really every day of our relationship) I am more and more convinced of the fact that God has made us for each other.

My Sweet Princess, I am more delighted to be your husband, more attracted to your beauty, and more committed to you and our marriage than I have ever been.  Thanks for being my wife.  Thank you for saying yes.

Love, Your Knight