Celebrating 50 years of marriage

There are celebrations and then there are celebrations. Over the years I’ve attended and participated in 50th Wedding Anniversaries. As a general rule they are all special, but pretty much the same what with the video presentation of the couples life from their early childhood, the birth of their children, the children’s growing up years and then the sequence continues with their grandchildren. The food is about the same from one celebration to the next – some buffet, some sit-down dinners, some simple others not so simple. I’ve attended only one where the bride still could get into her wedding gown. And in some the children and/or special guests speak about the couple. There are celebrations and then there are celebrations!

Yesterday we attended Herb and Alice’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. Herb is Margaret’s brother. The fellowship hall was filled with the invited guests. Some we knew others we didn’t. There was out-of-town family that we hadn’t seen for a number of months. The hugs and greetings felt good. The tables were decorated with a certain flare – probably the handy work of their daughter-in-law. But then it was time for the celebration to begin.

The video was shown with a tagline that I hadn’t seen before … “to be continued” … kind of a nice touch. During the ceremony of renewal of their wedding vows the pastor was privileged to introduce some of the original members of the wedding party – the flower girl, the best man and a bridesmaid. I wonder how many of our wedding party we could even locate let alone have them attend? Well, we will know in 4 years as we celebrate our 50th … if we make it!

But then the celebration took an unexpected turn. I had never seen it done before and it caused every eye in the hall to go instantly wet! After Herb and Alice had exchanged vows and presented to each other a new set of wedding rings, they turned to their daughter and son, who were standing as matron-of-honor and best man, and presented their original wedding rings. It was a real surprise to the daughter and son who both lost it completely. What a unique and simple touch that touched us all.

I’ve been told and have shared it constantly that only one percent of those who get married celebrate their 50th Anniversary and that day arrives there really should be a celebration. In my first church, an old couple shared their wisdom and insight about their 50 years of marriage: … it is a celebration of the survival of the fittest, who ever died first lost the bet … it is a celebration of eternal forgiveness … it is a recognition that the grace of God is still at work … because if the truth would be known there is a day here and a week there that you would rather take your spouse to the highest mountain, push them off and tell God that they slipped

There are celebrations and then there are CELEBRATIONS … yesterday was another celebration of love, endurance, patience, forgiveness and a commitment to what God has joined together no one and nothing should tear apart!

Quote for today: A man at work decided to show his wife how much he loved her, and before going home, showered, shaved, put on some choice cologne, bought her a bouquet of flowers. He went to the front door and knocked. His wife answered the door and exclaimed, "Oh no! This has been a terrible day! First I had to take Billy to the emergency room and get stitches in his leg, then your mother called and said she's coming for 2 weeks, then the washing machine broke, and now this! You come home drunk! ~Source Unknown