Golden Anniversary

Yesterday Carol and I celebrated 50 years of marriage with wonder and thanks. (Actually I had to visit the doctor's in the morning for my ears to be syringed!)  When I was a minister attending golden anniversaries I always saw the couples as elderly with decrepitude just around the corner.  I felt a mixture of joy in their longevity together and sadness that they were now so very old! But if you actually arrive at 50 years of marriage I need to report that you don't feel that old facing imminent decrepitude.  Rather you remain astonished at the rate of the passing decades.

Though we have to postpone our family celebration until our US family can join us in August, we have experienced such a rush of congrats. from all over the world.  Many of the generous messages are undeserved but delightful to read.  Words are treasured.  One card called us -
To heartily celebrate one of the greatest gifts you've ever received -
God's gift to you of each other.
Enjoy recalling all you've shared
The memories, laughter,
Blessings, joys, trials and triumphs
That have enriched your life together
In so many ways.
You're incredibly blessed and a blessing to many.

We have recalled highlights from July 6 1968, leafing through the twelve black and white photograph album of our big day.  More importantly we have reminded each other of how special our relationship has been to each other through the years.   Our wedding was homespun with homemade invitations and service sheets.  Looking at one I see that we chose hymns carefully.  They are old ones!   I like how one of them begins and ends:
Now in the days of youth
When life flows fresh and free
Thou Lord of all our hearts and lives,
We give ourselves to Thee.....

Spirit of Christ, do Thou
our first bright days inspire,
That we may live the life of love
And loftiest desire:
And  be by Thee prepared
For larger years to come...

It has been a life of love which owes everything to God.  Ir really does!  To all of you who remembered us and have travelled some of the way with us - thank you so much.