Friday; August 13

This weekend, Jeane and I celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. As we look back, it is easy to see how much we and our world have changed. When we said, “I do” on August 14, 1981 there is no way that we could have known (or even imagined) what would happen during the next forty years. Our plans have been established, then changed, throughout the years. We have been blessed – no, it hasn’t all been easy (especially for Jeane having to put up with me) – but we have navigated the journey together and will get to celebrate with each other this weekend.

Every once in a while someone will ask how we made this far. I don’t know that we have the definitive answer to the longevity of marriage, but I think there are a few keys that have allowed us to get to where we are:

1. Friendship. We like doing things together. We have been each other’s best friends for over four decades. We have surrounded ourselves with fun people, but at the end of the day, our friendship with each other is the core of our relationship.

2. Forgiveness. It hasn’t always been quick and easy, but eventually we have gotten to the point of forgiving each other. Our desire to be together is greater than our willingness to hold grudges.

3. Faith. Jeane and I did not grow up in the same church environment, but we shared some common convictions. Through the years, we have built on this fundamental foundation. We have learned from each other and stood by each other as we grew and developed – not only in our appreciation for each other, but in our love for God.
I am blessed to have found my life-partner. I would not be where I am today without her. I am thankful to the Lord and to her for the life I have had and I look forward to the decades we have left together. As the Carpenters sang decades ago, “We’ve Only Just Begun.”!

Think About It!

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