Was it yesterday that my husband Paul and I said “I do”? This week we celebrate 41 years of marriage. That’s how fast it seems the years have gone by. Shucks, how in the world did we get to this point so quickly?
We were two kids who grew up in messed-up home situations. We married young, and the odds were definitely stacked against us. But in some of our conversations during our dating days, we made a couple of decisions that I think were the most important ones we ever made.
We determined that we were going to love each other no matter what—that we’d work at our marriage to keep the love strong. We made a commitment that quitting on each other wasn’t an option. Yes, that “till death do us part” clause in the marriage vows. We determined that we were going to love God and that we’d make Him the head of our home.
As a teenaged girl, I made a list of what I wanted in a husband, and I began praying for God to send that person into my life. The items on the list included a man who loved God and someone with a sense of humor, among many other things. When I met Paul, he fulfilled every item on that list . . . and he had blue eyes, an awesome laugh and cute dimples as well.
I sometimes call him my “favorite husband.” That usually gets some laughs, and people want to know how many husbands I have. Just one. But out of all the husbands in the world, he’s still my favorite, even after 41 years. I’ve been so blessed to have this sweet man in my life.
I love his heart that’s tender for God. I love how he’s been such an amazing dad to our three sons. I love how he’s such a softy with our grandchildren.
And I love how he loves me.
Forty-one years later, he still holds my hand. He still prays with me . . . and for me. And he still melts my heart.
Sweet friends, are some of you looking for that special someone to spend the rest of your life with? Then you need to know something important: God is the ultimate matchmaker. Make a list of what you’d like in a spouse, pray about it and follow God’s guidance. That sure worked for me!
Happy anniversary to my favorite husband. I love you, and I hope we have many more!
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:9)
