All From Abundance - Vol. #003
A Look Inside:
- A reflection on the the beauty of dreaming together in marriage and the freedom it brings.
- What began as a physical injury became an invitation to walk with God at His pace - slower, deeper, and full of peace.
Dreaming Together - Tanner
Today is mine and Brittany’s 11th wedding anniversary.
This isn’t a post with “11 things I’ve learned in 11 years of marriage.” I don’t have an organized list for you. Just a few thoughts from one of us about something that has meant the world to both of us.
One of the greatest gifts in marriage has been the ability to dream together.
Some of our dreams have been big: where to live, how to raise our kids, what kind of life we want to build. Some have been smaller but no less meaningful: Friday night plans, summer trips, the kind of garden we hope to grow (stay tuned for more on that this summer), or the kind of home we want to cultivate.
There is something special about sharing a vision for your life with someone and hearing them say, “I see it too.” Not just being willing to go along, but genuinely buying in and owning it together.
Today, we’re spending some alone time together in Wrightsville Beach - the place Brittany has termed our “green pastures” in reference to Psalm 23. It’s where we go to rest, reset, and remember who we are. So many of our dreams have been formed walking the “The Loop” while pushing our kids in a stroller, watching the sunset as a family with ice cream in hand, and in quiet mornings with coffee (for Brittany) and open Bibles. It’s a place where our individual hopes have become shared ones.
And here’s what’s wild: the world often tries to tell you that life ends when you get married. That freedom disappears and dreams get shelved. But that’s never been our story. If anything, marriage has expanded our sense of freedom and purpose. We don’t feel stuck. Rather, we feel sent, called, and free to imagine.
We believe God designed marriage to be a partnership not just in the practical sense, but in the imaginative sense too. In Genesis 2, Eve is called a “helper suitable” for Adam - not a sidekick, but a co-creator. Marriage invites us into a shared life of creativity, responsibility, and possibility.
So today, I’m reflecting on how grateful I am to have a wife who sees what I see, and often sees more. Someone who encourages the dreams that live in my heart and shares her own with trust and joy.
If you’re married, I’d encourage you to pause and ask each other: What are we dreaming about right now? What do we want to build? What do we hope for together?
Because dreaming together - really dreaming - is one of the sweetest forms of intimacy God gives us in marriage.
A New Way to Run - Brittany
After playing college basketball, I picked up a new hobby and decided to become a serious runner for a few years. Some friends and I would meet outside a few mornings a week and would run all around the nearby neighborhoods. We ran 5k’s, 10k’s, and of course, a half marathon. I did NOT run a full marathon, but I wanted to compete and remain an athlete.
Throughout training, each of us had nagging injuries at various times. I specifically remember before the Richmond Half Marathon, I was getting treatment on my lower leg two days prior because I was in so much pain. “Overuse” and “too many miles” were the words the athletic trainer was using.
I made it through the race with friends and the memories are tattooed on my heart and mind forever because that was the last race I ever ran. After that race, I knew I had to change something. I couldn’t keep running and training the same way, only to keep getting injured. My lower limb injuries were affecting my feet all the way up to my lower back. I had to change something if I expected different results. The pace I was going was not sustainable.
Fast forward to my mid-thirties, I now prefer strength training and mostly walking. But God has reminded me of something: I am a runner. Okay, maybe not a marathon runner. But I’m on mission and I’m a fighter. He sees the competitive edge in me and created me in His image, so I receive those traits from Him. It may look a little different now, and may not be what I expected, but I’m learning to acknowledge my limits and capacity.
So here’s what I’m learning from a nagging injury, a setback, burnout, or just being completely depleted.
His pace for you is different - and maybe slower. I’m learning I can’t go at the pace of the world. I’m learning to focus more on what is hidden and unseen, making sure my mind and soul are healthy and full of truth.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25
His peace for you is greater. When my mind wanders and worries, I’m not living in a place of peace and contentment. My thoughts are a direct correlation to my peace, which means I should be aware and willing to audit my input. What am I hearing, seeing, or consuming that is fighting for my peace?
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” - Isaiah 26:3
His purpose for you is deeper. I can be so quick to look left and right at another family or ready for another stage in parenting. However, God is calling me deeper. He has been calling me to do the hard work, the slow and hidden work that no one sees but Him. He’s reminding me of my purpose, which is stewarding the people He has called me to and the path He has me on. Looking at the season I’m in, trusting God that His path for me is good, and being determined and convinced that He’s always with me.
“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” - Psalm 16:5-8
His power is made perfect in weakness. He’s filling in the gaps. Just like going to physical therapy for an injury, you have to rehab a muscle and strengthen areas of your body that have been weakened. You have to come to the end of yourself, recognizing the need for help, and rebuild your mind and body. The same is true in life. I’m learning to see the areas of my life where I need the Holy Spirit to transform my thoughts and words, and trust and abide in Him along the way.
“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” - Hebrews 12:1-2
I don’t run very long now, but God has so gently reminded me, you’re still a runner. My pace or purpose may look different from those around me, but His peace and power are carrying me and sustaining me right where I am. I’m learning to rebuild my trust in Him, receive His strength and walk in His abundance.
A Few More Things...
- Song: Be Where Your Feet Are by Christy Nockels - The lyrics to this song have been a much needed reminder to stay in the moment and to love our kids exactly where they are.
- Recipe: Healthy Three Ingredient Cookies - An easy summer cookie recipe!
- Article: Was Jesus a Good Cook? - Speaking of food, a quick glimpse into Jesus' cooking, and how even breakfast on the beach can carry eternal meaning.
Until next time,
-Tanner and Brittany
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