Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happily Ever After

Today is my parents' 66th wedding anniversary. I was going to write a post in their honor, but after reading the one I did last year, I decided to use it again. I don't think I can come up with any better words today to share the story of their love and their life together ... a marriage that was truly made in Heaven.

The year was 1943, and America was in the midst of World War II. Times were tough and the future uncertain, to say the least.

He was a handsome young sailor, barely 19 years old, and she was his pretty little 17-year-old high school sweetheart. They were deeply and madly in love ... and nothing would do but that they get married.


Halloween fell on a Sunday that year, and at 9:30 a.m., between Sunday School and church, they were married at the First Methodist Church in Monroe, Louisiana. And from that day forward, they have honored and fulfilled their wedding vows by devoting their lives to each other, for better, for worse ... for richer, for poorer ... and in sickness and in health.

Today my parents are celebrating their 66th Wedding Anniversary, and are still just as deeply in love as they were that Sunday morning in 1943, if not more so. Of course, in 66 years of marriage there were some hard times ... and some sad times ... but their unwavering faith in God and their abiding love for each other gave them the strength to endure them.

My mother's favorite Bible verse is Corinthians 1:13:7, and I think it exemplifies their love and the life they have shared together:

Love bears all things,
Believes all things,
Hopes all things,
Endures all things.

It is difficult for me to put into words how truly blessed I feel to have these two precious people for parents. They have been an inspiration to me and my family throughout our lives, and I hope they know how much we all love and admire them.


9 comments:

Stacey said...

66 years is such an amazing blessing for your parents and the whole family. Congratulations and wishes for many more.

Stacey

RachelD said...

May I add my Congratulations and Best Wishes---I can see where you get your inspiration for your kindness and dedication and success.

They have every reason to be happy today. What Blessings!!

rachel

Unknown said...

What a sweet post! They are so blessed to have had 66 years together...and you are so blessed to be a part of their lives!

Happy Anniversary to them!

Donna said...

You are so lucky to have parents like yours. It is a blessing for them to have 66 years together. Congratulations to them and I hope they have many more.

Tonja said...

What a truly wonderful milestone! How blessed you must feel to have had your parents for all these years! God has been good to your family!
Isn't it wonderful to have parents you are proud of? That in itself is such a gift. When so many in our world are ashamed of their heritage and their upbringing and their family history...it is wonderful to be able to proudly state that your family is worthy of praise.

I am fortunate to be able to say the same thing, so I know how good that feels.

God continue to bless your family with His grace and mercy!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Lovely. Totally lovely. I hope they had a wonderful anniversary and will have many, many more happy ones together.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Janie! Happy belated Anniversary to your parents! 66 years I can't imagine!! 29 seems like eternity!lol (just kidding)! I hope they had a fantastic day! Hope you are doing well also and enjoying the first day of November! (The first of every month is supposed to be a new diet but that darn leftover halloween candy forced me to start tomorrow!) Take care dear - talk to you soon! Sincerely, Jeannette

Linda said...

Janie, A belated congratulations to your parents. You are truly blessed to still have them with you!

Also, in case I don't get the opportunity on Tuesday:
Happy Birthday!!

Linda

Beth at Aunties said...

Janie,
I loved this beautiful tribute to your sweet mama and daddy! They have to be wonderful to have you for a daughter.
I hope their anniversary was very special for them and I wish them many more happy ones together. It is such a HUGE blessing they still have each other.
My daddy was also 19 and my mom 17 when she joined him, so they could be married before he was shipped out from Camp Shelby, in Hattiesburg, Mississipp, no less!:)
THANKS FOR SHARING and jogging my mind. Their 65th wedding aniversary would be tomorrow, on Nov 2nd, if my sweet dad were still alive. ~♥