This week my parents will celebrate 36 years of marriage.  Wow!  That is such an accomplishment for my Mom.  Just kidding Dad!  It’s an accomplishment for both of you!  It’s something that both of you should be proud of.  Not many people these days can say they have been married for 36 years.  Instead of getting you two a card, I thought I would do a tribute blog post to you and your marriage.

I want to personally thank my parents for being great role models when it comes to marriage.  When they say opposites attract…man they got that right with my parents!  We used to pick at Mom because we always said she robbed the cradle when she married Dad.  Mom is a few years older than Dad, but age is just a number.  Dad was a young whippersnapper when he and Mom got married.  Seriously though, my parents were complete opposites.  Mom was very quiet and introverted and Dad was a little more vocal than Mom and was extroverted in my opinion.  This is funny though because over the years I think this has changed a little bit.  Mom is more outspoken and Dad…well…sometimes…you just don’t know what Dad is thinking.  There were several people who said these two wouldn’t make it.  Well…to those who said that Mom and Dad can now look back and say “How you like me now?!”

You have to understand though; I don’t want you to get the wrong impression.  Their marriage hasn’t always been picture perfect, but they did work to make their marriage last.  In fact, they faced some really tough times.  My Dad was injured at work at a young age and then was let go from his job and to this day is in time because of his injury.  My parents could no longer afford the family car or the house.  We stayed at both of my grandparents’ houses for a while.  During this time my parents were separated for a little while.  This was a very dark time for my family even for my brother and me.  There were moments when I wondered if my parents were on the verge of a divorce.  It’s not easy for children to be faced with a situation like this and I know it’s even worse for the parents.  However, there was a glimpse of light.

To this day I am thankful for my paternal grandmother who introduced my parents to God and a wonderful church family.  My parents eventually got into church and accepted Christ into their lives.  This was a turning point for my parents.  Christ, family members, and the church really helped my family during this tough time.  They gave my family hope.

During this time my parents were able to work through their differences and continue their marriage as one.  To this day, I look to my parents for guidance when I’m facing a situation in my marriage because I know that whatever my husband and I are going through my parents have probably already experienced it.  It’s actually pretty funny.  Both my husband and I look up to my parents and consult them for different things in our marriage.  I normally go to my Mom and my husband normally goes to my Dad.  A while back we told my parents that we know each of us consults with one or the other.  My parents popped up and said, “Yeah we know.  We talk about it together afterwards.”  We all kind of laughed at that comment.  At least I know my parents will never steer us wrong and they have our best interest at heart.

So, to my parents thank you for always being there for each other in the end.  Thank you for living up to your marriage vows.  Thank you for raising me to know what marriage is about.  Thank you for sticking it out even in the tough times.  Thank you for communicating with each other even when you didn’t want to.  Thank you for being marriage counselors to my husband and me.  Thank you for your love and support throughout the years.  Thank you for putting God first in your marriage and in everything else.  Thank you for being a constant reminder that marriage is great when each person puts 150% into it.  Thank you for reminding us that marriage is not always easy, but as with anything hard work, dedication, and a lot of prayers make it a little easier and smoother.

I pray that God continues to bless you both with many more years of happiness.  I pray that God will keep you both healthy and that your marriage will continue to inspire others as it has inspired me.  I pray Mom continues to say that with each passing year their marriage only gets better.  Lastly, I pray that if something does happen Mom will give Dad 5 minutes to pack his things so he can go with her! (Dad ALWAYS says this).

I love you both so much and I could not ask for better parents!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…”  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV Bible

Credits:

Picture from Pixabay.com