Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happily Ever After

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

On October 31, 1943, 70 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 70 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 70th Anniversary, Mama and Daddy!

6 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Happy Anniversary to your parents! What an amazing thing to celebrate that many years together!

As an Episcopalian, I just think of Halloween as secondary to the celebration of All Saints Day and All Hallows' Eve. So they married on All Saints Day! Better, isn't it? :-)

Love you...

Sheila

Pat said...

Janie,

A Happy Anniversary to your Mom and Dad.
How blessed your family is to have your parent's stable influence and love in your lives for all these years.

Blessings and Happy Halloween!
Pat in Tallahassee

Pat said...

Janie,

A Happy Anniversary to your Mom and Dad.
How blessed your family is to have your parent's stable influence and love in your lives for all these years.

Blessings and Happy Halloween!
Pat in Tallahassee

RachelD said...

Oh, I wish them all the love and happiness and caring for each other, for another 70 years! Isn't it wonderful to see a couple who try to "outdo each other with kindness?"

And I'm just so pleased that you posted this NOW---I'm in midst of a chapter-by-chapter story of Chris' parents, who were married a year-and-a-half after yours. He was also a young sailor, and she a small-town girl of nineteen.

And between Sunday School and church---THAT'S familiar. Our two were married after Prayer Meeting, after having decided THAT AFTERNOON to get married. Aren't we just the Coincidence Kids?

Who knows---our two guys might have "shipped out" together! What a beautiful story. Why, we're practically SISTERS.

rachel

Beth said...

What a sweet story-you just don't hear those often today. Thanks for sharing the story and the picture! Happy Anniversary to your folks!

Jenni said...

Happy Anniversary to your parents, dear friend...What a testiment to true, abiding love....

young couples nowdays could learn much from their example...

Hugs,
Jenni