Time of Celebration

September is always a month of many celebrations in our family.  We have a precious daughter, a wonderful son-in-law, and a grandson, who were all born in the month of September.

"Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes, My lover has arrived and he is speaking to me." (Song of Songs 2:10)

"My beloved is mine, and I am his." (Song of Songs 2:15)

September is also the Anniversary of our Wedding. Dan and I were married on Sept. 23, 1967.  So our Anniversary sometimes comes and goes with a little fanfare. But this year, as I am sure you have figured out, is the year we celebrate 40 years of marriage.

Today, as I was showing off the gift my precious husband had given me to my friends at church, someone asked, "you mean you have been married to the same man for 40 years?" Oh yes, I replied, I most assuredly have, 40 years, four children, and 6 grandchildren make a very full life.

As Dan and I sat celebrating with an anniversary meal after church, we began to talk about our years together. He reminded me that there were a lot of nay sayers, who said it wouldn't last, because we were too young to know what we were doing. And yes we were very young (18 and 20). But unlike many couples today, we were committed to our marriage and each other from the beginning.  We had spent many hours talking and sharing what we each wanted and needed from our relationship. There was no such thing as a pre-nup then, nor did Dan and I ever even think of such a thing. 

Yes, we promised to love, honor and cherish each other for the rest of our days. And I have always felt very cherished by my beloved. I believe that it is what every wife should feel and should expect to feel. The Bible admonishes a man to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave His life for it.  To love his wife more than his own body. I can truly say that my beloved has made Christ his example. He is the Spiritual leader of our household, and has always fulfilled his responsibilities to me and his children, even at great sacrifice to himself.

But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh, so they are no more two, but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.(Mark 10:6-9) God's pattern is clear 'til death do we part.

" Marriage starts out as like an empty box.  There's nothing in it.  It is an opportunity for us to put something in, to do something for marriage.  It was never intended to do anything for anybody; people are expected to do something for marriage.  Love isn't in marriage, it is in people, and people put love into marriage." (J. Allan Peterson, The Myth of the Greener Grass)