Proverbs 5:18 (ESV)
Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in
the wife of your youth.
Thirty-four years ago I had the wedding rehearsal jitters.
It was really happening. We were committing "till death do us part"
in less than 24 hours. I felt both excited and scared as I anticipated our new
life together.
Becky and I met in a manner only God could have orchestrated.
As we look back we are still amazed how God worked and brought us together.
Our 34 years have been years of growth. There have been many
wonderful seasons. There have been a few difficult seasons. We have grown our
family from two to four then back to two as we have added children to our home
and the grew and moved to their own home. We have experienced a variety of
friendships, jobs, and homes.
We have enjoyed one another. We have been frustrated with
one another. We have agreed. We have disagreed. But through the ups and downs,
we have been committed. We have been committed to love, to stay together, to
work through conflict, to apologize, and to change as needed. This weekend we
celebrate that commitment.
Our anniversary is an annual event that allows us to stop,
remember, celebrate, and recommit to our relationship. It is a time to be just
the two of us. It allows us an opportunity to evaluate the time and energy we
are giving our marriage on a regular basis.
We have celebrated our anniversary throughout the years in
a variety of ways. Some years it was an evening out to dinner. Other years
we've gone away for one or two nights and stayed in a cabin in the mountains or
in a replica of a lighthouse. No matter what we did we celebrated that there is
something sacred and celebratory about another year of marriage. It is sacred
because a covenant to God has been fulfilled. And it is celebratory because a
man and woman have grown closer to Christ and each other. This marriage
milestone is meant to mean something. It is not just another day that comes and
goes without recognition.
Our anniversary is a testimony to our commitment to Christ
and His commitment to us. In a day when some men trade in their wives like a
used car, and some women walk away from their husbands and children like a
nuisance to her freedom, much needs to be made about marriages that achieve
longevity. “Until death do us part” is not a trite saying but a bold
declaration of life-long dedication.
The best celebration of the year is your union with Christ.
Your relationship with Jesus is meant to be a mirror of your marriage. They are
both by grace through faith. They both require focused attention and going
deeper with each another; so hilariously celebrate your marriage anniversary.
Enjoy the blessings of being together over time. It is something to be proud of, because God
says marriage is meant to last a lifetime.
Dear Lord, we celebrate the day when You joined us together
as Husband and wife. We thank You for
being with us on our daily journey together through life’s ups and downs. Fill us
with love, forgiveness, patience and trust. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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