It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us. . .
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
With our thirty-seventh wedding anniversary ahead of us this week, my husband and I can relate to the quote above. Together we’ve weathered two recessions—not counting the current economic whatever-it-is—said good-bye to both of our mothers as well as to three siblings, reared two children, and watched the world change through three different wars.
I can remember interviews on television and in the newspaper where the reporter asked couples who have stayed together for many decades what their secret to marriage might be.
Some said to never go to bed angry. A biblical concept—Ephesians 4:26, (NKJV) “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”
Others said to respect each other. Again, a biblical teaching. “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3.(NKJV)
Still others said to love unconditionally. Amazing, isn’t it? The Bible teaches that as well. I John 3:11(NKJV) “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
The pastor who married us said he tied a slip knot—the more we struggled against it, the tighter the knot became. His words reflected years of wisdom, because the greater the struggle facing us, the stronger the need to pull together. We are more in love now than when we said, “I do.”
In His word God says “It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18 (NKJV). “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)
Our pastor said, “What God has brought together, let no man put asunder.”
That was only the beginning. What followed were years of growing together, living God’s truths and seeking His blessing. Because of those times,we can look back, as we will this week, and say, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . .” But we walked through it together.
Happy Anniversary, Loren.