As the first-born, I have naturally known them the longest. Well...not counting all the people who knew them before me, but I hate to digress for the purpose of accuracy. Moving on...
I've known them for a brief (*cough*) 35 years. They've known each other for a scant 3 years more. I've watched and learned, listened and ruminated, and in the process I've learned what real love is.
I've learned what it means for lives to be joined for the better and for the worse. I've seen the heartbreak and the sweet moments of respite. I've been there when tempers got short and when humility won out. I know there are days that they stuck it out simply because it was a covenant they had made. I know there have been times laced with warm-fuzzies and tender kisses, too. And the beauty of all of it is that Dad and Mom chose God over self, commitment over ease.
And because they chose these things, they have bequeathed them to their children, all five of us. Such gifts are not lightly given; they are born out of sacrifice, out of choosing correctly day in and day out. Nor are they lightly taken. Two sisters gracefully married. My brother within days of marriage. My handicapped sister, perhaps more than the rest of us, has been blessed to have these lives ever present in hers. And I, single, have--more times than most unmarrieds--been able to share with married women what that lovely, messy bond we call marriage should look like--not because I've 'been there,' but because I have been present when it was lived, day in and day out. Each of their children are bearing forth fruit fertilized by their love and commitment.
There is a humorous story told in the family of a conversation between the two newlyweds. Mom, curled up in Dad's lap (as she would be so often over the years), asking, "Why do you love me?" A dangerous question, fraught with perils my father did not apparently sense. "Because I choose to," came his contented reply. The contentment was no longer a shared emotion...
But one of the great truths our parents passed on to us is that true love isn't about heart flutters, though those come sometimes and are lovely. True love is about choices that reinforce your original choice to commit yourself to the support, encouragement, exhortation, and pursuit of Christ-likeness of and for another. True love, as has been said before, is a verb.
At the time, my mother didn't appreciate the value of my father's statement, as no young newlywed bride would. But love that is chosen is far more powerful than love that is fallen into. For falling out of love is sure to happen, and then where will you be? But chosen love mirrors God's love for us: it sees warts, weaknesses, and all, and still chooses you. That's the kind of love that will sacrifice, will die to self, will die for you.
I could fill my blog daily with the lessons my parents have taught me and not exhaust them. But on this day, on their thirty-seventh wedding anniversary, I want to highlight this: The commitment you have continued in and the love you have shown bears fruit now to the third generation. Thank you for thrilling in the lovely times and for choosing in the tough ones. It mattered then and it matters now. What a beautiful example you are. Your lives will echo throughout all of eternity, to the praise of His glory.
With all my love,
-J
P.S. Sibs, I'd love to hear from you on this.
(c) 2008
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8 comments:
Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! What a gift they have given their children and those who know them...and people like me who don't know them :)
Tell them happy anniversary from ME too! Surely your dad remembers me!
I still remember falling for one of his trick questions in class....now I know better! haha!
Wishing them the best!
From the son of this couple, I bid a hearty amen. In fact, you inspired the writer in me to share my own thoughts. http://williamsonswritings.blogspot.com/
Thanks for this tribute to a couple that is our example for living a Godly life and for me a soon to be marriage.
I think it is a wonderful thing that I grew up with friends whose parents stayed together through thick and thin. I did not grow up with anyone thinking that divorce is ok. Of course there is one in my life that has done this a few times, but that was not an influence on my life.
I know that growing up with solid marriages all around has strengthen mine.
I did not know the story about their early days, but I am not surprised that Dad said that. Poor Mom on that day :-). But as their 2nd daughter and in this month will mark my marriage of 8 1/2 years, I too thank them for their wonderful example. Coming into my marriage I was not surprised by much because I had seen their VERY real relationship. Remember how we use to complain about them kissing in front of us? Well I am so glad now for everyone of them as it was an example of their love for each other for us to see. Thanks Mom and Dad for being faithful to Him and to each other.
Think your folks will read this wonderful tribute? I'd email them a hint but my email out thingy is not working since the power outage yesterday. We had hail and tornadoes. I think your folks dated in Fort Worth, and rode the train near the zoo. Whenever we rode that train with our boys, I'd remember that story. And your poor mom was the first daughter-in-law. Have you heard the story of all the brothers-in-law telling her she looked just like Tammy Wynette?
It's lucky my bride never asked, "Why do you love me?" Being more insensitive than your dad, I'd have probably said something like, "What's the alternative?" or "Do I have a choice?"
I got Aunt Joyce's email working.
If Uncle Bob asked me why I love him, I'd reply that God helps me. Whenever I am angry, I ask God to remove the anger and give me His Perfect Love, and He does it every time. God nudges me when I am angry, and out of sorts, and God forgives me and God gives me His Love. He does all the work. I just stand amazed, and God even makes Uncle Bob SO handsome ! (and God makes Uncle Bob thoughtful and kind and helpful and insightful and smart and funny...)
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