I’ve been “Out of pocket” the last few days –no Morning Manna, etc., but it was for a good reason. Yesterday Bev and I celebrated our 51st anniversary. As I told her, I am more proud of that than anything I (We) have ever achieved. All of the trophies, news paper clippings, etc. etc. from the past are totally meaningless in comparsion to this. This is tops on my list.
Notice that I used the word “achieved”–I did so for a reason. Lasting marriages don’t just happen. They are the result of hard work. A lasting marriage takes committment from both the husband and the wife. I could write a book on that, not as an expert, but from the stand point of experience. Regardless of how wonderful your spouse is it takes nothing short of a miracle for a marriage to last half a century. It takes the grace of God!
As I look back over the years I think of the many difficulties we encountered, and of the many wonderful blessings we experienced, and of the many great things God has done. Without Him we had no chance of making it.
But as grateful as I am toward God, I am also very thankful for Bev. God worked the miracles, but she allowed Him to work in our lives so as to make our marriage last. If you only knew!No one, not even our eight children, has any idea what she has been through. I am so glad that she has put up with all my faults and failures for all these years. No man could ever hope for anything more! I love her today more than ever. She has stood with me through thick and thin. She has forgiven me when I couldn’t forgive myself, and she has helped me when I couldn’t help myself. She is my biggest helper, my best friend, and my greatest earthly treasure. No man, no pastor, could ever hope for a better wife than she has been to me. So, when you think–“Wow! 51 years. That’s amazing”. She deserves all the credit. Without her love, forgiveness, hard work, and prayers it could have never happened. 51 years–THINK ABOUT IT!
