Camouflaged on the Battlefield of Love: Still Grounded in Faith, Covered by Grace

Camouflage and the Covenant

Camouflage is more than a pattern — it’s protection. In the military, it’s designed to guard movement, minimize exposure, and help soldiers navigate terrain without being seen. But in marriage, I’ve learned that camouflage takes on a different meaning.

It’s not about hiding from the world, pretending, or keeping secrets; it’s about staying covered — covered by grace through faith — while God does His refining work behind the scenes.

Each November, around our anniversary, I take time to reflect on our marriage — a “year in review,” if you will. It’s an opportunity to look back and share what we’ve learned along the way. I do this not because we have it all figured out, but because our journey might encourage someone else who’s still navigating the real work — the roles, the responsibilities, and the commitment it takes to keep their marriage strong.

This year marks twenty-two years of marriage for me and Leon — twenty-two years of learning, growing, and choosing each other, even when it isn’t easy. Much like my platform, Dawn of a New Day 365 — where I highlight the good, bad, ugly, and unexpected experiences of everyday life — our story is one of overcoming through difficult truths and the kind of transparency we didn’t always want to share, but was necessary — and through it, we found the transformation we didn’t know we needed.

Marriage is a battlefield at times: it calls for strategy, strength, and armor—plus the faith and wisdom to withstand whatever comes.

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The Year in Review

For me, this year started strong — with book tours, author visits, and speaking engagements that reminded me of my calling. I had the privilege of pouring into audiences, mentoring new writers, and seeing my work continue to open doors.

Midyear brought another shift — returning to the workforce in a new role that stretched me professionally but grounded me personally. And then came one of our biggest milestones: celebrating Leon as he earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration, Management, and Organization from Trident University International — a proud moment for both of us, especially knowing how we’ve both aspired to excel academically and professionally to this height.

I jokingly say, “As for me… I’m now married to a doctor — but pretty soon, my husband will be too. Dr. Green 2.0 loading.”

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When the Battle Hits Home

Last week, more than ever, reminded me that marriage takes work. Even when you’re in alignment in most areas of your life, marriage can still have moments when you get out of step.

We’ve found ourselves missing cues and misreading moments — thinking we said something we didn’t, assuming the other already knows what we mean, or expecting understanding without ever communicating what’s really on our minds. Not because of indifference, but because life has been loud. We’ve both been so consumed with our responsibilities that, at times, we’ve unintentionally neglected one of the most important ones — the duty of marriage itself.

When Life Gets Loud

For a while, we were in sync. We shared the load at home, co-parented with balance, prayed together consistently, and served side by side in ministry. But somewhere in the rush of deadlines, travel, meetings, and late nights, that rhythm shifted. We were still moving forward, but not always in step with each other. We were together in purpose, but out of step in communication and connection.

This year, our anniversary fell in the middle of an already demanding season. I was away overseeing an important meeting that required my full attention, while Leon continued to navigate the weight of a national furlough that has left him — and so many others — working without pay. Though it hasn’t affected us financially as much as some, since he still receives his retirement and disability benefits, I could see the weight he carries — not just as a provider, but as a man and a leader responsible for others. He still reports for duty faithfully, leading with conviction while quietly carrying the concern of those under him who are struggling, both financially and emotionally.

Purpose and Pressure

On my end, I’ve been learning to balance the work I love — the meetings, the travel, the leadership — with the reality that purpose sometimes comes with sacrifice. The pace that fulfills me can also squeeze the margin I once had for writing freely, mentoring authors, and nurturing the creative side of my calling. And while I wouldn’t trade this season, it comes with its own weight — the long days, the parenting sometimes at a distance from a teenager who benefits from up-close attention, and the ache that comes with being away when it matters.

And if I’m honest, not every moment of that strain has been quiet. There have been times when emotions ran high, when our words came faster than our understanding, and when we both had to stop and remember that we’re on the same side.

Finding Our Way Back

Those heated moments are the ones that test your endurance — the ones that make you pause and ask, “Are we okay?”

Yet even in those spaces of discomfort, we always find our way back. Back to calm and honor. Back to mutual respect. And back to the faith that what God joined together, no disagreement can put asunder.

Sometimes, it’s not the distance between two places that wears on you — it’s the distance between two hearts trying to stay steady under pressure. And still, we press on, trusting that the same God who brought us together is still holding us together through every battle we face.

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Camouflaged Love

When I look back at our anniversary photos — me in my camouflage jacket, Leon in black and green — I see more than coordinated colors. I see a reflection of where we were and who we’ve become.

“Camouflage at one point was a uniform for us. I wore it for eleven years; Leon wore it for twenty-nine. But we didn’t just wear it as Soldiers in the Army — we unknowingly wore it in our marriage. “

At the beginning of our marriage, there were times we hid behind the title “husband and wife” — projecting connection and commitment before we had learned to live them.

From Uniform to Understanding

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11

This scripture immediately reminds us why the armor matters. The armor helps us guard against the enemy’s wiles — the deceptive tactics, distortions, and doubts meant to weaken our defense. The armor is God’s protection, equipping us with truth, righteousness, faith, and endurance.

So those fiery darts? They aren’t necessarily meant to destroy us. Often, they’re meant to distract. In marriage, they show up as pride, impatience, selfishness, or the petty disagreements that pull us away from unity. Sometimes it’s a tone, a misunderstanding, or the assumption that your spouse should just “know” how you feel. Those darts come to shift our focus from the covenant to the conflict — and that’s exactly what the enemy wants.

When we return to love as 1 Corinthians 13 describes — patient, kind, enduring — we remember the purpose behind the promise.

Guarding the Covenant

As veterans and former dual-military spouses, Leon and I understand the strain that comes with serving side by side — the long stretches apart, the constant adjustments, and the challenge of relearning one another after each season of change. Those same lessons — of patience, preparation, and endurance — still serve us now, long after the uniforms came off.

We’ve learned that the battlefield of marriage demands just as much preparation, intentionality, and vigilance. There are moments when you have to lower your guard with each other, but keep your armor up against everything else trying to divide you.

Camouflaged love means discernment. It means guarding your covenant from unnecessary exposure — not out of fear, but out of reverence for what God entrusted to you. It means remembering that the covering of grace is stronger than any strategy we could build on our own.

And in those moments when the pressure builds, when life feels loud and love feels tested, it’s that covering that keeps us grounded. Because while the world may see the uniform or the photo, only we know the cost of the battles we’ve fought — and the grace that continues to hold us through each one.

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Still Soldiers

Leon and I know how to fight — thankfully, not always with each other, but for what matters most. Our military years taught us discipline, endurance, and sacrifice. Those lessons have carried over into every season of our lives. But what keeps us strong isn’t just experience — it’s grace.

The morning of our anniversary, I woke up in a hotel room miles away from home, preparing to lead another full day of meetings. Leon was back home, maintaining his work duties while managing the house in my absence. The responsibilities of home are shared between us, but they often fall heavier on a woman’s shoulders. For me to be away for five full days was a lot, but he handled it the best he could.

That morning, my phone buzzed. It was a message from him:

“Happy Anniversary, Dawn. I thank God for the grace that brought us together and for the love that keeps us strong. You are my answered prayer and my forever friend. Love you more today than ever. Thanks for hanging in there with me.” — Leon

I read it carefully, processing every word. Leon isn’t one for flowery language — he usually just does the thing, and I’ve come to expect that. But those words landed when I needed them most, especially in a week when I’d been questioning our connection.

Powered by Grace, Not Perfection

As always, I posted our anniversary photos and acknowledged the years we’ve shared. This year, though, the pictures weren’t just about new poses or outfits — they captured a season where we decided to take better care of ourselves, together. We committed to healthier habits, eating better and exercising daily. Leon is down fifty pounds, and I’ve lost thirty. It isn’t easy, but it reminds us that discipline, like love, takes consistency. What started as a health goal became another layer of our partnership — a reflection of how we’re still growing, changing, and choosing to show up for each other in new ways.

Seeing our progress feels rewarding, but it also reminds me how easy it is for people to celebrate the results and overlook the road that got you there.

Someone commented on our anniversary post this week and called us a “power couple.” Though flattering to hear, the truth is we’re just two imperfect people powered by grace. People see the smiles, the coordinated colors, the ministry moments, and the milestones — but they don’t always see the work behind it.

They don’t see the late-night conversations that turn into frustrations before they turn into prayers, the forced compromises that stretch your patience when your own need goes unmet, or the humbling apologies that come when you realize you’ve hurt the person you love — not by intent, but by impact. And in those moments, I’m reminded that grace works both ways. Yet there’s still that unspoken choice to keep showing up — together — because what God has joined between us carries a purpose far greater than any temporary conflict.

When Grace Becomes the Glue

We’ve both learned that love isn’t sustained by passion alone; it’s strengthened by perseverance. It’s remembering that a covenant requires daily commitment — even when emotions waver, even when understanding feels hard to reach.

We may not get it right every time, but we keep choosing grace — in growth, in forgiveness, and in every season that challenges us to love better. Because when grace becomes the glue, it holds together what life tries to pull apart — not by perfection, but by God’s steady hand at work in both of us.

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Covered by Grace

As I reflect on this year — and on twenty-two years of marriage — I’m reminded that grace has always been our covering. It’s the thread that has held us together through distance, change, and growth. It’s what steadies us when emotions run high and what softens us when pride tries to take the lead.

Marriage, like service, comes with sacrifice. There are long days, unseen efforts, and moments that require more strength than either of us feels we have. But just as God sustained us through deployments, transitions, and the unknowns of military life, He continues to sustain us now — not through our own power, but through His.

Every marriage will face its own kind of battlefield. Ours just happens to come with reminders of our calling, God’s covering, and the covenant that keep us grounded. Through it all, we’ve learned that love anchored in God doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It simply has to stay covered.

As veterans, Leon and I learned early that a soldier is never unprepared — and as believers, we’ve learned that a couple covered by grace is never unprotected. Grace doesn’t erase the challenges; it equips you to endure them. It teaches you how to stand when you feel weary, how to forgive when words have fallen short, and how to keep showing up when life feels like too much.

The Mission Continues

So to every couple still standing, believing, and learning how to love through the lessons — stay camouflaged. Remain grounded in faith. Let grace be the armor that protects what God has joined together.

And to every veteran — of the military and of marriage — thank you. Your strength, sacrifice, and steadfastness remind us that honor isn’t found in the absence of battle, but in the courage to keep showing up through it.

Always here to bring the SUNSHINE! ~ Dawn

The Mission Continues

Thank you for reading and reflecting with me. I’d love to know what resonated most — have you found yourself navigating your own “battlefield of love”? Comment below or share this post with someone walking through a similar season.

And if you’re looking for a speaker, author, or voice to help your audience rise through faith, purpose, and perseverance, I’m now booking upcoming speaking engagements and author visits.

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