Monday, April 1, 2013

An Amazing ANNIVERSARY

Anniversaries have been on my mind a lot of late.

Today I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of friendships I made during last year’s Blogging from A to Z Challenge. (Special thanks to Challenge founder ARLEE BIRD for all the fun of the annual April event!) A few days ago marked the 8-year anniversary of the day I started working at my current job. And just recently my in-laws celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

65 years. Can you imagine?

They celebrated the day in a big way, of course. My mother-in-law brought cakes to the coffee hour after the Sunday morning service at their church that week to share the moment with the many people who love them in their congregation and to acknowledge God’s presence in their pairing. A huge bouquet of roses, lilies, and other blooms graced the main table in the fellowship hall, a surprise delivery from their children. Those family members who live in the area joined them for the day, in service and in celebration. And all week long in rainy Oregon they were drenched with love in a card shower that brought greetings from people all over the nation who knew them and wanted a chance to wish them well.

But 65 years!

Their accomplishment takes the breath away from those of us who sometimes have a hard time being in a room with the same person for more than 10 minutes at a stretch! Surely there was a lot of give and take in those years, a lot of letting go of little things and holding on tightly to the things that gave their marriage its life and vitality - their faith, their family, and their many friends.

Surely theirs is a forever love.

About the same time they were celebrating their anniversary, I began using the latest in a long string of “love” stamps from the post office. This year’s version of the “forever” stamp (one whose use is valid after purchase no matter how postage rates may have risen in the intervening time) sported a drawing of the back of an envelope that was sealed in a glob of red wax pressed in the shape of a heart.

What a fitting picture of this couple’s relationship, one that retained its value despite the changing times in the decades through which it’s traveled, each day a love letter to the other under a covenant that remained unbroken before the God who has only forever love for us - a promise written in His Word, kept in His heart, and sealed by His Blood.

“Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.” 
(Malachi 2:15)

15 comments:

  1. Anniversary accomplishment indeed! 65 years! This is so wonderfully amazing! May love continue unabated in these two senior adults!

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  2. I love to hear about such anniversaries!!! Those people who made it to 65 years are definitely role models!!!

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    1. You're not kidding! They are inspirational, for sure! Thanks for reading!

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  3. 65 years. What a milestone!

    Looking forward to seeing what you do all month.
    --
    Tim Brannan
    The Other Side and The Witch
    Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
    The Freedom of Nonbelief

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  4. wow!!! happy anniversary to both---hope you enjoy the challenge this time around!!

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    1. Day 1 was a joy...25 more to go!!! Happy blogging! :)

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  5. 65 years together is an incredible accomplishment! Truly inspirational. You're off to a great start, Lanie!

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  6. Anniversaries! What a great word and great time to reflect.

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    1. One down, 25 to go, lol! Happy blogging! And thanks for visiting!

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  7. What an interesting reflection! My wife and I will mark 45 years married next year (I'm assuming we'll live that long). Were both Pastors, and both retired now.

    BTW, I came over from Dark Thoughts, the blog of the Rat Lady.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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  8. Something cute my daughter asked me on March 7 of this year..oh mom what am I supposed to say, Happy Non Anniversary? I said well you can say anniversary, it is a celebration of a moment in time. She replied shew I am glad you and dad had that moment so I could be born! LOL May we celebrate all life's anniversaries that God blesses us with!

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  9. Beautiful post, Elaine. It sounds that at 65 years, they are still quite mobile too if she is baking and bringing baked goods to church, which is such a blessing after 65 years. Yes this is an amazing love and a great witness of how love can last.

    I too chose Anniversary for my A word, because my husband and I just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. That's a far cry from 65 years, but I believe we have a forever love too. Thanks and God bless, Maria

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Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate your time. :)

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