Fifty Years Ago!

50 years ago

on a warm September afternoon,

I stepped into a borrowed ivory wedding dress,

walked across the street,
 slipped my hand onto my dad’s arm

and walked down the aisle of a small country church.

Clare de Lune being played on the piano by a good friend,

the pews filled to capacity with family and friends.

My gaze was locked on the shining eyes

of the man God had given me to love.

Yes, we were young

but not so young to not know what we were doing.

But, 20 and 25 can’t even begin to imagine 70 and 75.

Can’t see what’s coming.

Can’t look down that aisle

and see across the years.

Can’t understand what grace will really look like lived out

through words and actions.

Can’t anticipate the decisions that will be made,

the children who will be born,

the jobs, the moves, the arguments, the ministries, the money problems, the snoring, the in laws, the tears, the joys, the sleepless nights, the friends who will weave in and out of our lives.  And, the grandchildren.  Yes!  The grandchildren!

A 20 year old can’t see that far.

The only real thing that this young couple knew

was that

in all the years to come

they would stay together.

To stay

day in and out

through easy and hard

joy and sorrow

fear and trust.

To stay

would be the one thing

that 20 could promise.

That 20 certainly didn’t know -

couldn’t conceive

how wise she was to make that vow

at that time.

But 70?

She gets it!

70 can look back and see the wisdom of her choice,

the Hand of God in leading her to take a bus ride to New Orleans,

to spend a day sight-unseen with a mature seminary senior.

Yes, 70 knows how smart she was to say yes when asked to marry.

70,

wrinkles, colored gray hair and all

sees how truly fortunate she is

to have pledged her troth

on that perfect Saturday evening in Acadiana.

70 sees the blessings

the joy

the laughter 

the fun

the hard decisions

the faults in ourselves, covered by mercy and grace.

70 loves more deeply and more fully

because of those 50 years of marriage.

Where 20 was naive,

70 is prudent.

Where 20 hoped,

70 sees and knows.

I am so very thankful

to have walked that aisle

50 years ago.

So thankful for the years the Lord has granted -

for the love that has grown beyond anything I could have imagined or promised.

20 was good

but 70 is so much better!

Happy 50th, my love.

And here's to the next 50!