OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning To You Good Morning To You …… and Happy 42nd Anniversary to my lifetime partner and husband, Tim.
I’ve written about commitment a LOT and today that’s what it’s all about. On this day, January 16, 1971 Tim and I were married at the little church in Bergland, Michigan where my dad was the pastor. Happy 42nd anniversary to us. From the day Tim said to my dad, “Can I have your daughter’s hand in marriage?” and my dad’s reply, “What about the rest of her?” we were committed. My dad told us when he tied the knot, he tied it so tight it wouldn’t come apart, and I guess he was right about that. Not that there have not been times when challenges frayed us to the point that knot was hanging by a thread, but it stayed tied. Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. “ In those times, it was God, that third cord, that kept us together.
We had a Sunday School teacher, Bob McNeil, who taught a series on marriage and family life, I still remember him saying that the biggest reason for the high divorce rate is because people enter into marriage with the attitude that divorce is an option. As long as we tell ourselves we can get rid of the marriage if it doesn’t work out, that divorce is an option, the chances are pretty good that we’ll take what’s behind door number two and bale when life gets tough and things look better “over there”. Divorce happens for any number of very good reasons. We live in a fallen world and marriages, despite the struggles to stay together, sometimes dissolve. That’s reality.
In 42 years, we’ve certainly had our challenges. Many times if I’d had a towel, I’d have thrown it in. In those times it would have been easy to let that knot just fall apart. In those times it was only the Lord who held us together. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” In those times, I wanted to be blessed and I craved peace. I’m sure Tim did too. God didn’t promise us an easy life but he promised to go through it with us and be our strength when our own was gone.
Our life verse has been, Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“ Life has never been easy, but it’s still worth it. Happy Anniversary, Tim! I love you still and forever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nx5M1DPg6w
Because of Grace we Press On