Happy Anniversary, Mary!

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12 ESV).

Hard to imagine that Mary and I are celebrating our 47th Wedding Anniversary today. I know that seems even more incredible given the fact that Mary doesn’t look old enough to have been married for that length of time. I remind people that she was just three when we married (she will never get over fifty in public speech from me – and don’t ask me what I’m going to do when we celebrate our Fiftieth Anniversary). You can tell from the picture I decided to post with this devotional that Mary has changed very little through the years. By the way, the backdrop for this picture is the Little Pigeon River in the Smoky Mountains. They haven’t changed over the years either. I am often asked what the secret is to our lengthy years together. Normally I answer only half jesting that our longevity is completely based in Mary, not me. So, it seems appropriate as I think about the Smokies and our years together to meld the verse today together for some brief words of encouragement and inspiration. Solomon lists two things in this reading that have been important to us over the years. Perhaps they will help you as they have us. First, he says the excellent wife is “precious.” That word really means “treasured.” Like our beloved mountains, she is a treasure. Being “retired” now has given us a new perspective on that truth. While we now can spend much more time together, the time together has not lessened the value or enjoyment of that time together. I can’t remember going to the mountains and not spending some time cruising slowly through Cade’s Cove. Nothing has really changed over the four decades we have done that; however, each time is just as wonderful as I remember the last. For a marriage to last, really last, it’s not about something “new.” It’s about recognizing and treasuring the value of one another. Second, he says the excellent wife possesses an attitude to “do good” to her husband. I know I used an action verb in the word “do”; but, it more of an attitude than a behavior. While we have not always agreed in all things, we have more often than not sought each other’s good. The mountains are like that for me. I never go that I don’t lower the windows, turn off the radio, and listen to magical sounds of the silence of the mountains. We haven’t been able to do a “quiet walkway” through the paths of the woods there in a while, but when we did, I was always amazed at the wonder of those sounds. It did me good. They refreshed my heart and restored my hope. Our conversation with one another ought to always seek the end of restoring one another’s joy and hope. I’m out of space again; and, not nearly having exhausted the topic I must conclude. Happy Anniversary, Mary!