July 23, 1982
"My beloved is mine, and I am his." - Song of Solomon 2:16
On this day 30 years ago, I married my best friend. We were high school sweet hearts and only 16 years old, so we got very little support from family and friends. Some people even predicted we'd be divorced by our first anniversary.
We knew it wouldn't be easy. We were young, but we were also determined. So from day one, we committed ourselves and our future to the Lord.
Has it always been easy? No, not always.... especially in the early days. When 2 sinners get married and live together under one roof, there are sure to be arguments, disagreements, etc., not to mention the typical problems that happen on a day-to-day basis. But the word "divorce" has never been in our vocabulary. We knew that we were married for life. (Matthew 19:6)
We have been through alot together. Some of the milestones we have shared..
We have rejoiced at the births of 7 children.
We have also known the pain of one of our babies being born into Heaven.
We have moved 10 times! Wow!
We have cried as we said good-bye to our firstborn as he left home to join the Navy and become a submariner.
We have been through a cancer battle (my hubby had skin cancer).
We have been through loss of employment.
We have grieved at the sudden Homecall of our beloved father.
We have experienced the indescribable joy of our children coming to know the Lord Jesus.
We have cried as we gave away our oldest daughter in marriage.
We have rejoiced at the births of our grandchildren, and will rejoice yet again next month when our 4th grandbaby makes her entrance into this world.
No, it has not always been easy. But hubby and I believe that it does get easier with each year of marriage. We have learned to give more and take less.
After 30 years, we practically know what the other is thinking. For goodness sake, we can't even play Scattergories anymore without writing down the same answers! :)
Through all the trials, tears, joys, and sorrows, the Lord has been faithful. And He has made our marriage strong and secure. When we see some of our former classmates, they are shocked that we are still married - and happily married at that. And that gives us a wonderful opportunity to share what the Lord has done in our lives.
I look forward to many more years with this man the Lord has given me. No matter lies ahead for us, I have complete confidence in the One who will see us through it.
"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
- Deuteronomy 6:9
Hope you have a blessed day, friends!
linking up at The Modest Mom
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Absolutely beautiful! I agree with you about each year being better too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment, JES. Hope you have a blessed week. :)
DeleteThat is beautiful! What a great testimony!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you stopped by, friend! Wishing you a blessed week.
DeleteThank you for sharing about His faithfulness. So inspiring! And Happy Anniversary! Have a blessed week, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the anniversary wishes, dear friend. I hope your week is full of blessings! :)
DeleteHow beautiful ! Happy anniversary! Happy 30 years to you and 30+ more.
ReplyDeleteI agree it does get easier with each passing year, for some that may not be the case, but for my husband and I it has been.
I'm so glad to hear and read of a fruitful marriage !!
Blessings along the continued journey.
Love in HIM, Deanna
Thank you for the anniversary wishes, Deanna. And I am so glad that your marriage reflects the goodness of the Lord as ours does. :) I hope you a have lovely week, my friend!
DeleteHappy Anniversary, Lisa, to both of you!! He has been so gracious to give you and your husband a strong marriage when so many fail in these days. May the Lord continue to bless you in your marriage.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for anniversary wishes, Jean. May you have a blessing-filled week! :)
DeleteHappy Anniversary my bestie <3
ReplyDeleteLove always Donna
Thanks so much, dear friend!
DeleteLove you! :)
Congratulations...May Our Lord continue to bless you as you move on towards many many years together :)
ReplyDeletem.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Maria...and for your sweet words. :)
DeletePraising the Lord along with your for His goodness and faithfulness to you and your beloved. May you enjoy many, many more years together and see more and more of your children's children.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lisa :)
Thanks so much for anniversary wishes, dear Lisa. May you have a week full of blessings. :)
DeleteWhat an amazing testimony!!! Wow! Congratulations! I hope you keep me updated with Nicole's baby coming...which by the way I just posted maternity pictures on my site. I wish Nicole had a blog...send me a picture of her when you get a chance. I'd love to see how big Elia is...I miss you all!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Stephanie. Love the maternity pics. :) Miss you guys, too!
DeleteWhat a beautiful recount and testimony. Happy Anniversary! Stopping by from Far Above Rubies.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Kristen...and for the anniversary wishes. :)
DeleteHope you have a blessed day,
Lisa
Congratulations! We just celebrated our 5th! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 5th anniversary, Mary Beth! May the Lord grant you many more happy years together. :) Thanks for stopping in. :)
DeleteCongratulations Mrs. Lisa! You are truly blessed ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Rebecca. Hope you're having a lovely week. :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful testimony! I love hearing how God took something that had all the odds against it and made it a wonderful testimony of His strength. I pray that you have many more wonderful years and may the Lord be apart of everyone of them. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteBlessings and ((HUGS)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind anniversary wishes, dear Mary. I pray you're having a blessed week, my friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and ((hugs)) to you, too! :)
~Lisa
Oh, I'm sorry I missed your big day. Happy 30th Anniversary and Congratulations to you and the Mr..:) I think that is great how you two fell in love so young and stuck with it -- people did that all the time way back you know. What a wonderful testimony you have. I guess the Lord didn't think I was mature enough at 16 and made me wait until I was 34 before I got married, lol. Is that a photo of your wedding? I'm guessing so. Very lovely. ♥
ReplyDeleteHello Jane,
ReplyDeleteIt's always a joy to have you stop by. :) It is photo of our wedding. No expensive flowers. No tulle-draped pews. No high-paid photographer (as you can see - lol). Not even a high-dollar wedding dress. Just the 2 of us, the preacher, a hand full of witnesses...and the most important One: the Lord. :)
Hope you're having lovely week.
Much love to you!
We have been married 41 years!
ReplyDeletePamela
WV
How wonderful, Pamela! Hope you have a lovely week-end, and thanks for stopping by. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmen...and congratulations, we have just celebrated 32. I think the thing I loved about 30 was the gift for 30 was a pearl and how a pearl forms is so much like how a marriage forms and the two become one.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Janette! Congratulations on your 32 years of wedded bliss. And I think that a pearl is very appropriate for 30 years. :)
DeleteMany blessings,
Lisa