It’s Our Anniversary

It seems we have been celebrating our 50th anniversary all year!

As I’ve thought about our 50 years together, I’m reminded of the beauty of the seashore. Its beauty lies in its imperfection, with sandy shores and ever-changing landscapes. So is the beauty of our marriage, the ever-changing landscapes, literally and metaphorically. I find beauty in our unique journey. 

I still choose you today.

Reminiscing

I love the moments when we have rehearsed our first meeting, that first kiss, the various houses we have lived in, the churches you served, and the schools where I taught. Every year, when we visit the seashore, the sand between our toes and gulls flying overhead, we notice and talk about the changes. The seashore adapts to the seasons. And so, we have exercised flexibility over the years.

Who could have imagined that two people from different states, different social circles, and different religious backgrounds, having known each other only a year, could not only marry but thrive, having experienced more “better days” than “worse” ones? More good health than bad. More loving and cherishing than angst and anger. Now 50 years later, we still enjoy each other’s company. 

Sure, we have faced our share of challenges; at times, we hurt each other, and we hurt for the other. Just as the seashore experiences the ebb and flow of the tides, constant breeze, and salty air, our love has weathered the highs and lows of life. But, weathering the storms together, we emerged stronger and more resilient. Today, I am grateful for those life experiences – and I know you are too. As one of our favorite songwriters from our youth wrote, 

So [we] thank God for the mountains
And [we] thank Him for the valleys
And [we] thank Him for the storms He’s brought [us] through
For if [we’d] never had a problem
[We’d] never know God could solve them
[We’d] never know what faith in His word could do

Through It All by Andre Crouch

Just as the seashore stands firm against the changing tides, the waves crashing against the shore, our strength and stability have allowed our love to endure! We comforted one another when our first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, when work experiences were not what we hoped they would be, and then in the death of three of our parents. The births of our sons, their marriages, our beautiful daughters-in-law, and our four grandsons were all causes for celebration. We supported each other as we sought our Master’s degrees. I returned to work full-time after being home with our babies so you could attend seminary to earn your MDiv. You became Mr. Mom while I taught school and attended college in the evenings to earn my MAEd. 

I only remember issuing one ultimatum but then reneging on it with laughter some 16 years later. Only once did we both forget our anniversary. We’ve argued over many laughable little things but never over the things that matter–the eternal things. 

The passions of our youth have now been tempered by age and gentleness. We still love to caress, sit close, and hold hands. We laugh, inviting each other to grow old together. But now, in our 70s, we realize that “old” has arrived with all its changes and challenges.

Still, you are the one I want to grow old with – the one with whom I want to share the ordinary blessings of everyday life and, hopefully, many more moonlit seashores.

Happy Anniversary!

*** Hey Readers, check out my Substack “devotional and ordinary thoughts in 100 words.”