Today!! Today is our 30th Wedding Anniversary!!! 30 Years!!!
Thank you, Father God.
This last week, our kids took us out to celebrate. It was one of those nights that we parents cherish more than our kids will ever know; one of those you know you will never forget; one that we’ll thank God for all the days we have on this earth… and all the ones we’ll have in heaven, too.
They planned a beautiful night for us, brought us flowers, shared stories, and graciously let us reminisce. They read us letters from young couples whom we’ve mentored, which blessed us and honored us and made us cry. And they listened when we had that moment of trying to put into words all that we wanted to say, all we wanted them to remember and take away from our very imperfect attempt at 30 years.
“Kids,” I said. “You need to know. Marriage is work: if you see any success in ours, if you feel any of the joy that we have known, know this: your dad has exemplified an unselfishness in our marriage that has left me speechless. If you remember anything: remember the ways your dad has served me (and you) when he did not have to. Remember the ways he continually put himself last, and did things to bless me, and sacrificed his own wants and comforts to love me well. This one thing: serving each other unselfishly – is God’s plan and His path to a fulfilling and joyful marriage. It’s getting up early to provide for your family, it’s shoveling the walk when it’s 10 below zero, it’s letting out the dog when no one else wants to get up, it’s selfless leadership. Yes, it’s encouraging, romancing, laughing, and loving, but in all of these – it’s finding joy by laying your wants and rights down for the other. It’s selfless. I pray you will love this way, boys. I pray you will remember.” (In all honesty, I wasn’t that eloquent in the moment. I was blubbering and emotional. But praise God for blogs and boys that read them… I get another chance at saying what I was trying to say through the emotions …)
We looked at our two sons, so proud of the ways they are caring for their young ladies, overwhelmed by God’s goodness and grace that they have become such amazing people, and are following hard after our God. We looked at their two young ladies, and I could not stop the tears as it washed over me again: how could God be so good to answer our prayers that we have prayed since they were babies and bring them such amazing women of God? How can we thank God enough for the ways they laugh and love and bring out the best in each other? How is it possible that after having two sons, God can create a love in our hearts for daughters that have entered our lives and stolen our hearts and brought us such joy?
This is a picture of God’s kingdom. A glimpse of His heart. A picture, though imperfect, of God’s desire for family and marriage and adoption and union. Just think!! If this is the joy we can taste, even in brief moments here on earth, how much more will be our joy when we are all united in perfect oneness and family in heaven?!!! How much more will we love and know and cherish each other when we all reach our eternal home, where we will never be separated again, and this love will never end? How good really is God? How much does He love us? There are no words.
“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.” 1 John 3: 1
If you’re still reading this blog, and have yet to know this God who knows you, hear our hearts: there is no one like Him. He is our strength, our grace, our forgiveness and our joy. He is our way, our truth, and our very life. We pray you will press on to know him more. It’s the best thing you could do for you – and your marriage!
And how do we end 30 days of celebrating? We’ve been pretty blown away by the kind responses we’ve had from you, our friends we know and the new friends we don’t know yet, who have been following this blog and our journey of celebrating 30 years. We just wanted to say thanks for going on this journey with us.
Thank you for celebrating with us! For reading these very long blogs (I’ve never been known for brevity…), for your kind responses, and for reaching out to let us know how God might be blessing YOUR marriage through them. And thanks for caring enough about marriages to spend some time with us. We told you before – we are praying for you and would love it if you would pray for us. We pray our marriages would continue to be a picture of God’s great love for us and the joyful union he desires to have with us, His people.
We pray blessings on you and your marriages today! May you get to celebrate 30, 50, 60 years someday! And no matter how long you’ve been married, may you celebrate TODAY, one day at a time – by cherishing and honoring and serving and loving each other well.
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” Numbers 6:24
“So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity – with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy. Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility, put (your spouse) first and view (your spouse) as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to (your spouse) instead of your own interests. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation.” Philippians 2: 2-5
His mindset? This is Jesus’ words to us all: “So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices their life for their friends.”
And their spouse.
(We’re off to Switzerland and Austria to celebrate! And have fun!!!!!)
thekindofwife Blog 