This past May, my dad celebrated his 75th birthday. My family from out of town was able to join us. When I think about the psalmist who said, "teach us to number our days aright" I realize how wise those words are. To look back at my dad's marriage of 52+ years, his calling, his strong biblical and reformed influence on me, his willingness to adapt to changes in ministry, are all qualities that make my dad's 75th birthday all the more meaningful! Congrats, Dad - love ya!
This past weekend, Laurie's mom and dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The Bouwer clan took them to Wildfire, one of my favorite restaurants. To hear them talk about their wedding 50 years ago on a rainy Friday night brought joy to my heart. What a gift Laurie and I have of witnessing both our parents celebrate 50 years of marriage. When they said "I do" they meant it. "In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part" is still God's plan. I pray we see a revival in marriages in this country. If you're married, stay married. If you're single, only marry someone who shares your faith. If you're divorced, seek God's forgiveness and next time make it the last time. Milestones!
Trudy and I are grateful for the emphasis that Faith Church places on building strong marriages. We're also thankful for all the couples who, whether they know it or not, practice the old idea of marriage as a vocation, partners on a mission to honor Jesus Christ and bless all those the Father brings into their lives.
Posted by: Bob Wille | June 30, 2009 at 03:03 AM
Erin and I just celebrated 12 years, with many more to come (DV). It's our hope that more couples will take advantage of counseling, retreats, and more to keep their marriages strong. We pray that "The Ravines" will be a big step toward keeping people together.
Posted by: Andre | June 30, 2009 at 09:06 AM