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At the age of 23, 2003 Dove award winning Christian singer Jeremy Camp lost his first wife, Melissa, to cancer—a tragic event that's now part of his testimony and his songs. In December 2003, Jeremy was blessed with a new bride: Adrienne Liesching, former lead singer for the Christian rock group The Benjamin Gate. Here's what they had to say about making marriage work without allowing the ghost of a past wife to crowd in.

When did you know you loved Adrienne?
Jeremy: A couple months after we started to spend time together. I didn't know if it was too soon; Melissa had been gone less than two years. But I felt God say, "I'm giving you a blessing. Accept it."

How has God carried you through the pain of losing a wife?
Jeremy: I've had times of being angry with God, throwing my Bible across the room, and saying, "How can I read about the God of healing when he didn't heal my wife?" But God gave me strength to handle each day—one day at a time. Melissa is with the Lord—no more tears, no more pain. That eternal perspective has kept me focused.

Adrienne, do you think you'll ever say, "Jeremy, Melissa is the past. Let's just tell our story from here on"?
Adrienne: I don't think I'd ever say that. Jeremy's story needs to be told. Every night, people who have experienced loved ones dying come up and share how Jeremy's story and music have been a source of strength for them. If I get to a place where I don't want to hear that anymore, I hope God will deal with me severely. I mean that.

Do you ever feel as though you're being compared to Melissa?
Adrienne: There was a time when I compared myself to Melissa—worrying I wasn't as good as she was. Finally, I recognized those comparisons could ruin my marriage. So I spent three days fasting and praying, reading my Bible, and asking God, "Who am I as a woman of God?" Since then, I've gotten better at controlling my insecurities. Satan might try to attack me with those thoughts, but not because of anything Jeremy said. If I ask him, "Are Melissa and I alike in this area?" he'll say, "I'm not even going to go there." He doesn't make me feel as though I have to live up to anything.

What's been the best thing about your marriage?
Jeremy: We enjoy being together and encourage each other to draw closer to God.
Adrienne: We keep growing in our friendship. The closer we grow to God, the closer we grow as a couple. It's a blessing to feel that happen.

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	Read more from 'Snapshot'

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