Camille and Sacha: Why Wait for an Anniversary to Start Loving Again?

December 31st, 11:45 PM.

Camille and Sacha sit on their couch.Not side by side. At two opposite ends.

Children asleep. TV broadcasting New Year countdown.But they're not really watching.

Camille breaks silence: "We can't start new year like this."

Sacha looks at her."Like what?"

"Like strangers living together."

The Year That Just Passed

What They Lost

Married 8 years.Two children. Job each. A house.

On paper, everything's fine.In reality, everything's collapsing.

They don't really talk anymore.Just logistics."Did you pay the bill?" "Your turn to drive kids."

They don't touch anymore.No spontaneous hugs. No lasting kisses.Just quick peck in morning before leaving.

They don't laugh together anymore.When was there real conversation? Complicity? Shared joy?

Lamentations 3:22-23- "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning."

Every morning, God's compassions renew.But their love fell asleep.

The December 31st Awakening

"We can't continue like this," Camille says.Tears rising."I don't want another year like this one."

Sacha sighs."Me neither. But what do we do?"

"We start over." Camille's voice is firm now."New year, new beginning."

"How?"

"We renew our vows.Not before priest. Not before guests. Just us two. Now."

Joel 2:25- "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten."

God restores lost years.This year devoured by routine can be restored.

Five Minutes to Midnight

Their New Vows

They stand. Face each other.For first time in months, they really look at each other.

Sacha begins, awkwardly: "I... I choose you again, Camille.Not because you're perfect. Because I want to start over."

"I want to see you like I saw you on our wedding day.Not as mother of my children or woman who shares my bed.As you. The woman I chose."

Song of Songs 8:6- "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death."

Camille takes his hand.Tears flowing now."I choose you too. I choose to love you again.To not count past offenses."

"I choose to really talk to you.To touch you. To laugh with you.I choose to make us a priority."

Their Concrete Commitments

Luke 6:46- "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"

Vows without actions are worthless.So they decide:

1. 15 minutes without phone each evening"We talk.Really.About us. Not children. Not bills. Us."

2. Touch each other daily"A prolonged hug.Every morning before leaving.A meaningful kiss in evening."

3. Weekly date night"Every Friday.Non-negotiable.We go out. We reconnect."

4. Pray together"Five minutes each morning.Hand in hand.We invite God into our couple."

Matthew 19:6- "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

God joined them.They choose not to let routine separate them.

Midnight

The Countdown

"Ten... nine... eight..."

They still don't watch TV.They watch each other.

"Seven... six... five..."

"I love you," Sacha murmurs."I mean, really. Not by habit."

"Four... three... two..."

"I love you too," Camille responds."And this year, I'll show you."

"One... HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

They kiss.Not quick peck. Real kiss.

The one from their wedding day.

The one they'd forgotten.

The one that says "I choose you".

Six Months Later

What Changed

Isaiah 43:18-19- "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth."

God does new thing.In their couple, it arrived.

The daily 15 minutes:At first, awkward. Uncomfortable silences.Then words returned.Laughter. Deep conversations. That lost complicity.

Daily touch:Morning hug became their favorite moment."I go to work with you in my heart,"Sacha says. Physical intimacy returned naturally.

Weekly dates:Sometimes simple. Coffee. Walk.But always intentional."It's our time," Camille says. "Nothing steals it."

Prayer together:"This changes everything," Sacha admits."When we pray together, we can't stay distant."

Psalm 127:1- "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."

They invited God to rebuild.And He did.

What Their Children Noticed

"Daddy kisses Mommy now!" their 6-year-old says one morning.

"Didn't he before?"asks little sister.

"Not like this. Now it's real kiss!"

Children see.Always.

Deuteronomy 6:7- "You shall teach them to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house."

In their house now, there's love.Intentional love. Chosen love.

And their daughters learn what real marriage is.Not perfect. But real. But alive.

Camille and Sacha's Message

You Don't Need to Wait

"Why didn't we do this sooner?"Camille often wonders.

Because they were waiting.Anniversary. Crisis. Miracle.

They stopped waiting.

Ecclesiastes 11:4- "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap."

If you wait for perfect moment,you'll never act.

New Year = New Beginning

You don't have to wait for December 31st.

Any day can be new beginning.Today can be your December 31st.

2 Corinthians 5:17- "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

In Christ,everything can restart.

Your marriage seems dead?It can live again.

You don't love anymore?You can choose to love again.

You're strangers?You can become accomplices again.

Their Practical Advice

1. Stop waiting for other to change"I changed first," Sacha says."I stopped waiting for Camille to make first move."

2. Do it together"If only one tries, it doesn't work," Camille says."Both must want it."

Amos 3:3- "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"

3. Be concrete"No vague grand speeches," Sacha says."Precise actions. Measurable. Daily."

4. Invite God"Without God at center, we'd have quit after two weeks," Camille admits."He gives us strength to continue."

5. Don't give up after two weeks"First three weeks were difficult," Sacha says."We wanted to quit. But we held on. And it was worth it."

Galatians 6:9- "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Your Turn Now

The Camille and Sacha Challenge

Philippians 3:13- "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."

What's behind:Lost years. Missed moments. Hurtful words.

What's ahead:Renewed marriage. Intentional love. New story.

Today, now, do like Camille and Sacha:

1. Really look at each otherSit face to face.Look your spouse in eyes.Who do you see? Stranger? Or person you chose?

2. Say it aloud"I choose you again.Not because you're perfect. Because I want to start over."

3. Decide your commitmentsWhat, concretely, will you do differently?Write it. Both of you.

4. Start todayNot tomorrow. Not Monday. Today.

James 4:14- "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed.Start today.

Camille and Sacha's Prayer for You

"Lord, we pray for couple reading our story today.

Maybe they're like we were: distant, exhausted, desperate.

Show them it's not too late.That You can do new thing.

Give them courage to choose each other again.Strength to keep commitments.

May their marriage be renewed.May their love be reignited.

In Jesus' name,who makes all things new. Amen."

The Final Verse

Lamentations 3:22-23- "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Every morning, God's compassions renew.

Your marriage can renew too.

Not in 10 years at anniversary.Not next year at New Year.

Today.

Now.

Like Camille and Sacha did.

Choose each other again.

Foundational Bible Verses