Fifty-three Years of Wonder

 

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:29-31 ESV).

 

Today is our 53^rd Wedding Anniversary. Mary and I have had over a half century of “wonder”! Some might laugh at that statement asking what she must have “wondered” when she agreed to be with me that long! However, the way I want to use that word today is in the sense of awe and glory. The picture I’ve included today was taken at Santa Fe Baptist Church in Tennessee where I was pastor before moving back to Texas. I had invited Paul Dengler, a good friend and Forrest Gump Impersonator, to come and share some of the wisdom from the wonderful story the movie. We had our picture made together with him after the service. Mary is holding “the” ping pong paddle and I’m holding a sign that reads “Run Forrest, Run.” I can assure you that may have been great advice for Mary 53 years ago, but I would have made the greatest mistake of my life had I done so.

 

I’ve often described the “wonder” of our decades together as being “bubble-wrapped” by God. That doesn’t mean we have not walked through crises. We have. We have struggled financially through career changes; we have struggled with health issues for many years that continue to be managed today. However, there has never been a time when God was not ever-present and working these things to our good. Additionally we have been blessed through the years with great blessings. We have three sons and their families that continue to be a great source of strength and joy to us. And, more importantly we have each other.

 

The writer of Proverbs provides and apt summation found in our reading today: “May women have done excellently, but you surpass them all” (v. 29). It is unfortunate that more people have not had the opportunity to know Mary as I have. Some would see her as quiet and uninvolved. Nothing could be further from the truth. She is the anchor point in our lives. She had always been that stabilizing influence, even in the great storms we have weathered. We have made a great team through these years and I hope to continue for as many more as the Lord desires to leave us on this world. So, this day, so near Christmas I am reminded of the work of Christ to bring us together and keep us so. We are indeed blessed! Happy Anniversary, Mary!