Monday, May 10, 2010

Ruby Tuesday - Thirty-six Years and Counting

Well, this is NOT a typical Ruby Tuesday post, as you can see, but there's just enough red in the photo to qualify.  Tuesday, May 11, is our thirty-sixth wedding anniversary.
Words cannot begin to express how fortunate that I am to have married the woman at my side.  She is everything to me, and without her, I am nothing.  A couple of years ago I posted "What's The Secret."  How do you stay married thirty-something years.  It is no secret.  It works like this.

So what's the secret to being married for thirty-six years and looking forward to celebrating number fifty one day? All I can tell you is that our marriage is centered around our faith and that the message from God's Word is critical to the happiness that each of us enjoys.

First of all, God loves us and everything He does for us is for our benefit. He created the institution of marriage to be enjoyed by a man and a woman and to bring each of them happiness. The Bible tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His Son to die on a cross for us so that we might, through faith, have eternal live. Christ tells the husband that he is to love his wife with the same love that Christ loves the church and gave himself for that church (Ephesians 5:25). If I love my wife with that kind of love, then everything I do, I do because I love her and I want her to be happy. I want her to be pleased with this relationship. I want my Lord to be pleased with me as a man who loves his wife and realizes that his wife is a gift from God created especially for me and for my happiness.
Secondly, marriage is a partnership. Like any relationship, it takes work to maintain that relationship in peak condition. A happy marriage doesn't "just happen". Both of us are committed to the relationship and to each other because we love one another and it is our desire that our partner be happy in this relationship. No major decision in this relationship is made without prayer and conversation. God is not the author of confusion, therefore He will not give my wife a different answer to an issue than the one that He gives me. Again, God created the institution of marriage for our benefit, not for our demise.
Finally, I married a woman far better than I deserve. I thank my Lord and Savior for her every day. My wife is the most thoughtful, caring and giving person that I know. Proverbs 31:10-12 says, "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." I have found that woman. Proverbs 31:25-30 further states, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and teaching of kindness is on her toungue. She looks well to the ways of her houselold, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." I married such a woman.
So, back to the original question, "What's the Secret?" The answer is, you have to give yourself to the marriage. You have to give yourself to your spouse. Whatever you have within you, you have to "Give it Away."

12 comments:

  1. ♬♬Happy Anniversary to you,♬♬
    ♬♬Happy Anniversary to you,♬♬
    ♬♬Happy Anniversary to Dear Mr. and Mrs. Driller,♬♬
    ♬♬Happy Anniversary to you.♬♬

    I knew all this about you already. Big hug to you both. :)

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  2. awwww... I can't wait until Travis and I have been married that long. Thank you for the example you and Mom have set in your marrige it is truly a marrige surrounded by your faith.. Oh and just think I have been around 34 of them ha ha!!

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  3. Beautiful couple!! Happy 36th wedding anniversary!! Congratulations and God bless!!

    My Cardinal

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  4. For those of you who are wondering, Matlock Six is our daughter. She is also the mother of four of the cutest grand kids to ever walk the earth.

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  5. Wow!!! You and your wife...36 years. Awesome. As you know from your visit hubby and I too celebrate our anniversary. Thanks for stopping by and yes...I agree....May 11th is a SUPER DAY!!

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  6. Happy Anniversary to you and your lovely bride, Driller. I'm proud you posted about your anniversary for Ruby Tuesday! Thank you very much! :)

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  7. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and your lovely bride...

    Love this post

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  8. wow another one anniversary celebrator :) may both of you continue to be blessed! happy anniversary to both of you!

    u may view mine here

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  9. Happy Anniversary to you and your lovely bride!

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  10. Congratulations on you 36th anniversary. I wish you many more.

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  11. Happy Anniversary! What a cute and sweet couple!

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