Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A Special Day

Halloween is my least favorite holiday, but the date, October 31st, is very special to me.

On October 31, 1943, 69 years ago today, Halloween fell on a Sunday, and at 9:30 a.m., between Sunday School and church, my parents 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.

On their wedding day, 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.

Today, as we celebrate this extraordinary milestone in their lives, my parents are still just as deeply in love as they were that Sunday morning in 1943, if not more so. Of course, in 69 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.

My family and I are so blessed to have these two beautiful people in our lives. They have been an inspiration to all of us throughout our lives, and I hope they know how much they are loved.

Happy Anniversary, Mama and Daddy!

7 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Janie... this makes me cry in a good way. What a loving tribute and great testimony to the lastingness of true love and love founded on the rock of the Lord.

Happy Anniversary to your dear parents and many thanks for raising such a lovely daughter!

Love you...

XO,

Sheila

Dorothy said...

This is so very special!! You are blessed to still have your parents AND they are still in love!!!

Salmagundi said...

A special post!!! Sally

Marlene said...

I was so touched by this beautiful tribute to your sweet parents. My parents, both deceased now, were married Oct.5, 194l. What an incredible journey it has been for your parents and I am so happy for you that you still have them with you.

As always, I enjoy your blog so very much.

Pat said...

Hi Janie,

I know you have made your parents very happy today with all the sweet words about them. Bless them! Thanks for sharing.

Pat in Tallahassee

Jake's a Girl said...

Happy Annie! to the parents.

This is so sweet!

Terri~terrileeauthor said...

69 Years!!! Fabulous. I love to hear stories like that. God bless them.