Thursday, March 24, 2011
183 years of marriage...
I think March is a great month for marriages. Marsha and I were married in May, but I still like March and here is why. My daughter Julie and Bobby celebrated 6 years of marriage this month. My folks celebrated 62 years, and Marsha's folks celebrated 66 years of married life.
That's 134 years of marriage just in March. Marsha and I will celebrate 38 years this May, and our son Joe Don and Jamie will hit 11 years in July. That makes 183 years our family will celebrate this year.
That is remarkable. Part of it is that obviously our folks live a long time. All four parents are in theie 80's. But here is the most amazing thing: probably 150 of those years have been great. You are wondering about the other 33 years. There have been some tough years in these marriages. Economic hardship. Never has been much money in any of these families. Sin struggles. None of the ten of these spouses are perfect. There are incredible stories of grace, restoration, and healing in these years. Sickness. Cancer, heart attacks, car wrecks, hospitals rooms waiting on test results, mental challenges. We have faced them all.
So what's the secret of making it this long? One is don't quit. Tough times come. And they go. We don't. We stay.
But here is the real key. And every one of the 10 of us would agree on the key to long - and happy - marriages.
It's God. Always God. The center of our lives and marriages is that He comes first.
So to Don and Jean Herttenberger (66 years), Joe and Juanita Ridgell (62 years), Steve and Marsha Ridgell (38 years come May), Julie and Bobby Gilbreth (6 years), and Joe Don and Jamie Ridgell (11 years this July) -- well done.
Anna, Jake, Avery, Andrew, and Austin: what a great heritage you have in faith and in marriage. You will continue this heritage.
So most of all ...
Thanks God.
That's 134 years of marriage just in March. Marsha and I will celebrate 38 years this May, and our son Joe Don and Jamie will hit 11 years in July. That makes 183 years our family will celebrate this year.
That is remarkable. Part of it is that obviously our folks live a long time. All four parents are in theie 80's. But here is the most amazing thing: probably 150 of those years have been great. You are wondering about the other 33 years. There have been some tough years in these marriages. Economic hardship. Never has been much money in any of these families. Sin struggles. None of the ten of these spouses are perfect. There are incredible stories of grace, restoration, and healing in these years. Sickness. Cancer, heart attacks, car wrecks, hospitals rooms waiting on test results, mental challenges. We have faced them all.
So what's the secret of making it this long? One is don't quit. Tough times come. And they go. We don't. We stay.
But here is the real key. And every one of the 10 of us would agree on the key to long - and happy - marriages.
It's God. Always God. The center of our lives and marriages is that He comes first.
So to Don and Jean Herttenberger (66 years), Joe and Juanita Ridgell (62 years), Steve and Marsha Ridgell (38 years come May), Julie and Bobby Gilbreth (6 years), and Joe Don and Jamie Ridgell (11 years this July) -- well done.
Anna, Jake, Avery, Andrew, and Austin: what a great heritage you have in faith and in marriage. You will continue this heritage.
So most of all ...
Thanks God.
