Y’all, I have a huge treat for you today! One of last year’s couples is sharing their very own Marriage Monday today! KJ and Emma are two of my dear friends here in Richmond, and I was so excited when they agreed to write something for the blog. KJ is a youth pastor at a local church in Richmond and has an epic sense of humor, and Emma works as a graphic designer. She’s equally as hilarious, but quieter about it. I’ve loved watching these two grow together from dating to marriage and so thankful for the encouragement they are to Chad and me!

A warm welcome to KJ + Emma!

KJ here. A couple of months ago, I was being introduced to our downtown church community as the new youth pastor. People clapped and welcomed us as we stepped out on stage and a fellow staff member handed me the mic. After giving a brief summary of my life and what lead me to student ministry, I led into our relationship by declaring, “We are still just newlyweds enjoying the perks of marriage.” The entire room erupted into uncontrollable (as well as uncomfortable) laughter. Emma tried to keep her composure but undeniably there was a look of surprise and shock. To everyone else, what I said was essentially “Sex is great!” “She does my laundry” or even “My diet is more than just cereal now!” But the truth is, I didn’t realize the implications of what I said until the texts started pouring in as I took my seat. As funny as it was, and as true as those things may be, it’s definitely not what I was referring to. In light of this funny (although slightly embarrassing) story and our first year anniversary, Emma and I have put together a few “real” perks of marriage to share with you today:

1. Being with someone who “gets” you. We are best friends. Because of that, we can read each other very well. Sometimes, we don’t even have to say a word and all it takes is a single look or gesture to communicate. (This especially comes in handy when we play games like Pictionary or Catch-phrase or when we come home from a long day and one of us immediately turns the oven on for cookies and The Office reruns.)
2. Being on the same team. We’ve had to remind each other of that a few times over the course of the past year, but knowing that someone else has your back in any situation is one of the greatest perks of being married. It reminds us that when we face things in our marriage that are beyond what we can see, know, or understand that we are in it together and don’t have to endure it alone.
3.  Seeing God at work in someone you love. We’ve come a long way since we started dating 5 years ago. Now that we’re married, we’re better able to see the Lord’s work in each other on a daily basis. It’s exciting to have someone alongside you to not only witness the progress, but also help and encourage you in your relationship with Christ.
4. Knowing your spouse will always be there. When one of us is hurting, it’s a comforting assurance to know that the other will always persevere in spite of natural instincts to retract or pull away. At the end of the day, we know that we are faithful to one another and it’s great to know that there will always be someone who won’t give up on you.

Obviously these are just a few perks of being married – we are discovering new ones each day! We’d like to thank Ali for encouraging us to reflect on our first year as husband and wife and for giving us the opportunity to share with you. Thanks for reading!