This is a picture of my parents when they were engaged, over forty years ago. I've always loved this photo growing up. They look so young and innocent and happy - excited at what their lives together might bring them, maybe even a little naive about what lies ahead. Even more than that, I love that while they might have lost some of their naivety and innocence that they've never lost that spark and companionship and pleasure in each other. Growing up, I always felt very secure knowing that mum and dad loved each other.
Last Sunday they celebrated forty years of marriage. Lately, I've been thinking about how much their marriage means to me as a married woman myself now. The longer I am married, the more I realise what an enormous blessing it was to be brought up in a home where my parents modelled the type of faithfulness, love and respect that it takes to stay happily married. As well as learning wisdom about marriage from them throughout my life through their words spoken to me, I realise now that I also picked up healthy patterns and habits that strengthen marriages almost by osmosis, through living in their household.
Now that I've been married almost thirteen years, mum and dad continue to provide me with a model of a God-glorifying marriage. I love that they still go for walks and hold hands. No matter how busy they are or how late it is, they always sit together at the end of the day and talk about their days. They continue to enjoy each other's company and friendship, serving each other and serving God together.
I'm so thankful for the example their marriage that they have provided me. And I'm thankful to God for his grace in their lives which has enabled that to happen.
3 comments:
I'm sure others will say this, but, I could be forgiven for thinking this is a photo of you with a strange man!
Congratulations to your parents. And a great reminder of what great marriages are made of. You are blessed indeed to have this example- not that that makes it any easier- most of us know what is the best way, not so easy to put it into practice! It is encouraging to see people who have put it into practice for 40 years though!
Thanks Elf - you're right, there is a bit of a resemblance between me and my mum!
I agree that having a good example to imitate doesn't eliminate the hard work of doing the imitating. But I still think that it's a great blessing and help to have a concrete, visible, 'worked example' to emulate, rather than just bare theory. Same with parenting too, I think, and a whole lot of other things in the Christian life.
Of course, it's not only family of origin where you can get that sort of example - especially if you have the kind of church that involves inter-generational connections and people are practising hospitality.
Yay! I actually tried to comment last week, but the ipad wouldn't let me scroll down to publish :(
But, I'm so glad that God has spread so much goodness through the marriage of your parents.
And I think it is pretty nice looking at that photo, thinking about where it fits into the family story I have married into (I do believe your parents and my in laws are in each others wedding photos...long before any of them were Christians...wow.)
Thanks for posting. xc
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