Towards the end of 2019, I got to walk down the aisle and marry my best friend. It was one of the greatest days, committing our marriage to Christ and saying ‘forever’ to what lay ahead. We didn’t expect our first year to be filled with fires around the world and PNW, a worldwide pandemic, churches closed, and less opportunities to see friends and family. Needless to say, the newlywed life hasn’t been an easy journey.
We met in February of 2018 and at the time, I was working in a job that I was unhappy in and Caleb knew he was about to get laid off. At the time, we had no clue what God’s plan was, but He sure did. Fast forward to us dating, and just months later, in May, Caleb’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In June I found out I needed a major surgery and in July my father was in the ER. It wasn’t until December that Caleb got a job, and around that time I was hospitalized for a terrible bout of the flu. When 2019 came along, we were STOKED, boy we had never been more ready for a new year. I started the year with a new job, which was a huge praise and in May we got engaged. While we went through several bumps throughout the year, another handful of health scares for myself, an extremely sick pet, and the stress of wedding planning—we made it through and I can’t say it enough—God Is Good!
I can remember it like it was yesterday—toasting in 2020 with some of our best friends from church and celebrating what would be an ‘awesome’ year…(it’s ok, everyone is laughing while they read that line). Instead, we have been stuck inside, missing our loved ones, missing trips, and have now (for the second time) cancelled our honeymoon. So far in 2020, I have been sad, angry, frustrated, and emotional, but because of God’s love, I have also been happy, safe, blessed, and GRATEFUL. I have a roof over my head, groceries in the refrigerator, friends who constantly check in, and a husband who loves me. But how in the world, during this crazy time, or really, ANY crazy time, do we keep a smile on our face and our hands held high praising God saying ‘THANK YOU’? Well, let me share with you a tradition my husband and I have started.
One night during dinner, we decided that we were sick of being bummed and frustrated about things that we can’t do, or that have been cancelled in 2020. It was as if we could physically feel God giving us the heart change in that moment, reminding us to seek Him first always. So, I took a white board we keep in our kitchen and wrote down ‘Gratitude for Losses’. I asked my husband ‘what do you really miss today?’ My husband mentioned that he missed ‘going to the grocery store and Costco together, whenever we want.’ I smiled. Such a simple thing to take for granted, daily, outside of a pandemic. So then, I asked my husband ‘What does this make you grateful for?’ To which he replied, ‘I’m grateful for having a job still during this time, so that we can buy groceries, and I’m grateful for the time you put into creating meals for us.’ You’ll have to pardon all the sappy lines! But, in all seriousness, this became our tradition and has been since that evening in April. Whatever we were thinking of that day, the thing we missed that was bringing us down, or making us angry—we encourage the other to replace it with something we are grateful for. We also keep it in the kitchen, so that we are reminded of it every few hours. The most rewarding part is that in everything we mention missing, we bring it back to God and His faithfulness and promises.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
More than anything, I have been reminded that when we have God, we have enough.
By Amanda Schneider
Amanda Schneider grew up all over the Southeast. A Florida native, she loves a good southern meal, college football, and Jesus! She lives in her beautiful home with husband Caleb and two kitties, Beau and Bagheera. Amanda is heavily involved with her church and church community and she loves hosting people in her home, Fall season, making people laugh, and cooking anything!
