Today is a very special day to my wife and I. 20 years ago, on June 23, 2001, we said our vows before God, family, and friends, and became one in marriage at a small chapel in Denver. Two decades is a long time, and we are still together today because Jesus has been the center of our marriage and our first love from the very beginning. We give all the glory to God and give Him praise for blessing our relationship, giving us two beautiful kids, and keeping our marriage strong in His love.
We have been through many trials and troubles together, and we have had hard times in our marriage too. It has not been a perfect journey, but the Lord has been so faithful to us. I can’t stress enough that we are still together after 20 years all because of Jesus. It is because of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that we are able to stand firm together in love.
After two decades of marriage, I can say with all my heart that to have a successful marriage we must love and forgive each other as Jesus loves and forgives us. We take 1 Corinthians 13 very seriously, and we pray to love each like that every day. We even have those verses in framed art hanging on the wall in our living room, and we read them daily.
Those verses are the definition of what love truly is. We have not lived out those verses perfectly, but God’s Word and our faith in Jesus are the foundation of how we strive to love each other. After 20 years of marriage, I can also admit that marriage is not easy. There are many challenges married couples face, and we must always be aware of the attacks of the enemy. The evil one seeks to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus defeated him at the cross. We rely on Jesus to protect and bless our family, and we stand victorious because of Him.
My wife has stood by me through the darkest and most painful years of my life. She never gave up on me when I faltered and was unbearable to be with, and I am so thankful for her love and friendship. We have many beautiful and wonderful memories together too, and I am forever grateful the Lord brought us together. We have been together since the days of our youth in college, and we look forward to many more years together as we raise our kids, and walk as one in the Lord.
Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done for us! Please keep our eyes fixed on You, protect our marriage, and may we always love You first.
Happy Anniversary, honey! I love you with all my heart!
Grace and peace to you all.
Ryan Callahan's Blog 
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