42 years ago today God did some of His most amazing work in my life by bringing my mom and dad together in marriage. I was 15 at the time. In an effort to honor my mother, I won't talk about her marriage prior to that. Suffice it to say it was not good and she was not loved the way she deserved to be loved. God redeemed that brokenness in an amazing and complete way. She was blessed to be married to one of the Godliest men I know. He loved His Lord and he loved spreading His Word. He didn't just "talk the talk", he "walked the walk". He loved my mom and honored her in a way that all children dream of. When the Lord is at the center of one's heart, He will be at the center of their marriage.
I know that everyone that loses their spouse grieves and goes through a difficult time, but I think my mom has a harder road than most. When I was a junior in college my dad, quit his occupation of sheet metal worker and entered Sunset School of Preaching. Upon graduation, they moved to Parma, Idaho, population 1,800. The church was round 75 people. They ministered there for 15 years. Notice I say "they ministered". Yes, my dad did preach and teach every Sunday, but the two of them ministered to that church and the community. They were together all the time. Unlike other ministers who office at the church building, their house was right across the street from the building and my dad officed at the house. Then in the late 80's God called them into a ministry as traveling evangelist. They lived in a 5th wheel and traveled throughout Idaho, Wyoming and Montana ministering to small churches who could not afford a full time preacher.
While they had a nice 5th wheel, it was still a 5th wheel. Not much room to escape each other in a 5th wheel. And for 10 years they would go from town to town ministering and blessing churches and communities. Until my father's health began failing and he was no longer able to preach or travel, and they moved closer to Steve and I in Texas. Because of the way they had chose to live and minister, they did not have a lot of money, so they were not able to retire to a big house with land in the country as they would have dreamed, but in a small 2 room apartment. But you never heard them complain. And they just got busy in the small town of Gunter in blessing that church with their talents as well. They were there about five years before it became necessary to move them even closer to Steve and I and more importantly to the VA where my dad was in need of more regular treatment. Gunter was about an hour away, but now they would be 3 minutes away. We found them a small condo.
In 2005 my Dad began having strokes, the first two major ones happening during church service in which the paramedics had to be called and that caused him to be shy about going to services again for the fear of being a disruption, so he and my mom stayed home, but never failed to worship as they spent time listening to several different TV evangelist and having communion together and praying. Even though my Dad couldn't get out, he never lost his love for the Word and he and my mom would sit everyday just talking about God with one another. It was nothing for them to spend hours at a time doing so.
That is why I say my mom's road has been harder. They were together almost 24/7 for most of those years. They were truly "soul mates". My heart hurts so much for her, as I know how much she misses him. But she continues to face each day and even more so days like today (their anniversary) with courage and strength. Knowing that He is enjoying his days with our Lord does help and knowing that we will see him again one day gives us the hope we need to keep on keeping on. But as I sit here with Steve sitting beside me and we talk and visit, I don't take for granted the blessing that that time is and realize how hard it would be if it were just me and the television. I thank God for allowing me to see what it looks like when He is at the center of a marriage and two hearts are as one in service to Him. I thank Him for His plan and bringing my parents together and His plan that they would be my biggest heroes of faith. But I pray more fervently these days that He sends His Son to take us home quickly so that my mom can be reunited with her love and we can all be in the presence of our Heavenly Father, the one we love most of all.
Not sure why I am blogging about this? I couldn't help but wonder how many of the 3 Billion people are anxiously awaiting our Bridegroom and contemplating our marriage in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ? Talk about a true Royal Wedding!! Our eternal marriage to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 