A while back, Mom and I had a full long day of doctor’s
appointments. Despite the storms we are
in, God’s joy and blessings always shine brighter! While waiting for one of her appointments, we
met two neat, neat, neat God-fearing couples.
Mom and I kept watching and listening to these older couples and
couldn’t help but ask, “How long have ya’ll been married? It’s so obvious that ya’ll are still so in
love with each other.” (You should have
seen how the love for one another just showed in how they looked at each
other.)
One responds, “We just had our 51st anniversary.” The other, “This year was our 60th.”
All four of these joyous children of the Lord go on to share over
time with us, “People think marriage is going to be easy. We’ll be the first to say it’s not. You aren’t always going to agree. There will
be challenging times, but knowing you are a team will get your through. There will be toxic people that are so
jealous that they will do anything to try to break you up. A marriage wrapped
around the Lord is the best strength there is because that strength comes from
Him. There will be those who think the lies they tell to try to knock down your
character is stronger than the Lord’s power was in putting you together and
keeping you together. Those crazy folks don’t have a clue…their evilness only
brings you closer together. God calls us to forgive and pray for those who
attempt to hurt us…”
Besides beaming and smiling ear to ear and covering them with
“Congrats” and “That’s awesome!” and “How cool is that!,” I could totally relate to what they were
saying 110%, and the phase Carter and I are in RIGHT NOW.
They continued, “Our marriage has stayed together because we
communicate, even when it’s hard….” (SO TRUE!)
“We don’t let misunderstandings go too far before talking about
them.” (YEP!)
“Because you both respect each other…not bash each other.” (SUPER
IMPORTANT!)
“Because you pray together, worship together, and dig into God’s
word together…” (AMEN!)
“Or at least you’re equally yoked.” (IF ONLY FOLKS UNDERSTOOD
THIS!)
“You surround yourself with healthy
minded and not toxic folks.” (GOT THAT RIGHT!)
“You could be the only positive, share 100% truth about marriage,
role-model, kind of a couple someone looks up to. Some have only experienced divorces and
negativity.” (BEEN A PRAYER OF OURS FROM DAY 1…THAT IT BE OBVIOUS THAT WE HAVE
A MARRIAGE CENTERED AROUND THE LORD)
How refreshing! I couldn’t
have asked for a more perfect timing for God to have allowed these “strangers”
and my path to cross.
One of the gentlemen happily said, “We know marriage isn’t for
everyone. Or that all of the things
we’ve said work for each and every couple.
But thankfully, they have for us!”
The other awesome husband exclaimed, “Us, too.”
“I can tell you are happily married though, “ He directed to
me. “I sure am! God is good!” I happily replied.
Our conservations, laughs, and stories concluded when one of these
woman’s mothers came out from having her tests run. The husband (son-in-law)
looked at this tired, negative, worn out woman and said, “Hey, if you are
coming with us, you better put a smile back on your face and gain a pep in your
step.”
Oh my goodness! I LOVE
IT! What God winks! Just another reminder to keep singing and
dancing in the storm.
I know reading this doesn’t begin to give this story justice, but
it gave Mom and I topics of conversations for days. We can’t help but smile as we talk about all
they shared. If only you could have been
a fly on the wall… Mom and I couldn’t
help but think, “I wonder what tomorrow’s waiting rooms will hold.”
As I told this story to Carter, almost at the same time, we both
said, “That’s so going to be us 50 years from now.”