From This Day Forward

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
August 25,1950

Twenty-five, fifty, fifty-four years this August. That's how long Bill and I have been married. And I have been reflecting on what kind of marriage it has been.

A Perfect Marriage? - No way. We know our marriage has been far from perfect. I don't know of any perfect marriage.

A Marriage Without Conflict? - We can't say that either. There have been many difficulties in our relationships with each other.

A Marriage With Commitment - That's one reason we are still together. Though our marriage is not perfect and though we have had serious problems, we made a commitment to one another almost fifty-four years ago. When a couple does that then they know that they must work together to resolve the problems.

A Marriage With A Partner - That's the main reason our marriage has lasted. God is a vital part of our individual lives and a vital part of our marriage. He ultimately is the one who has held it together through thick and thin.

A Marriage With Ministry - This is the dimension that gives our marriage the most meaning. Bill was a preacher when I married him and God has given us the privilege of serving Him together all of these years.

A Marriage With Love - While there are marriages that last without love, that is the dimension that makes it so full and satisfying. As our love for God has grown over the years, so has our love for one another. And we know it will continue to grow as long as God allows us to be together.