15 years.

Today David and I celebrate fifteen years of marriage.

While cleaning out our attic last week I found a box of my old journals, one of which included a list from the winter David and I started dating, when we were 21 years old. Before I share it, remember that we were best friends before we dated and knew each other very well after a year and a half in a small college together: studying, serving, hanging out in the same friend group.

From March, 2003, I present to you the “List of things I love about David Gentino”:

His heart: passion for the Lord

His heart for the lost

Desire to serve overseas

Sensitivity to the Lord’s leading/willingness to be re-directed

Humility, teachability

Passion, reverence for, and discipline in studying God’s Word

Habit of thankfulness

Joy in the Lord/a desire to grow in joy

Discipline in prayer

Leadership gifts

Gifts of teaching/discipleship/evangelism

Public speaking skills

Love of learning

Willingness to learn from other people

Willingness to try new things (even reading fiction!)

Love of reading

Love of deep-thinking

Ability to debate non-pridefully

The way God has softened him since I’ve known him

Wisdom, insight

Steadiness in personality — NOT MOODY

Doesn’t “play games” with my emotions

Sincerity — he’s not a “flatterer”

I can trust that what he says is what he really means

The way he challenges my thinking

Discipline in school studies

Hard worker — not lazy

Responsible — he follows through with his commitments

Careful with money — avoids debt

Funny — he makes me laugh!

We have great conversations either in groups or alone

Encouraging/optimistic

Good listener

He’s committed to physical purity in our relationship

Gentle with me

Thoughtful — he notices little things about me that no one else does

Respects me — treats me like an equal

Values my opinion

Loves kids!

Family is important to him

We don’t have to be talking every minute/he’s comfortable to be quiet with

What I love most about the list (which I’d totally forgotten that I wrote), is that 15 years later I can say with confidence that every one of these qualities are still true of him and has grown. I have the utmost respect for David. It’s an honor to be his wife.