I Do…. A Covenant

Twelve years later, and I revisit one of my first blog posts.

I’ve been asked by some how I’ve “made” my marriage last for so long… Today is our 36th [48th!] anniversary. I can remember that day:

• a home wedding at Freddie and Jack Huffman’s house by the University of Houston
• hot and humid, the A/C not keeping up with the demands being placed on it
• a special haircut that did not feel comfortable
• a spruced up 1971 Dodge Dart Sport, bright orange, white seats, white vinyl top
• matching ties for all the guys (which I still own)
• the minister, A.E. Matney, standing at the front of the room (he performed mom and dad’s ceremony in 1954)
• my brother, Vaughn, was my best man
• dad singing our wedding song selection (I still have the book it came out of) and my sister played the piano
• family and friends gathering together to help us celebrate

And then, Brenda walks down the stairs and is presented to me by her dad…

On that day we made a covenant and declared our undying love and devotion to each other. We sealed our agreement with a simple, “I do…” A covenant of love that has bound us to each other these 36 (now 48) years.

Never has there been a time when I wondered, “What am I getting myself in to?” Just 19 and 18 years old, we were barely out of high school, and committing ourselves to each other for the rest of our lives.

The year my granddad passed away, he and my grandmother celebrated their 65th anniversary. He was a little older than I when he married and she was a little younger. Was life easy for them? No! Several world wars, depressions, sicknesses, the death of a child, and a host of other unknown events could have created an opportunity for their marriage to fail. That last year of his life Granddad told me that they would have had nothing in their lives except for Grandmother saving and scrimping like she was famous for. When he wanted a new motor for his boat, she would analyze their finances and his desire and determine if they could do it. What a partnership they had – not necessarily rosy on all fronts, but it gave me an insight into how their marriage worked.

To my bride’s chagrin (at times) I keep broadcasting that we are aiming for 65 years of marriage. We are over halfway there.

Back in 2010, this statement was true. But today is 2022, so take this with a grain of history salt:

Something came to mind earlier this year –
we were both born in 1955, and this year we each turn 55.
Not very many people will be able to celebrate their births like this.
A math statement puts sums it up: (55 + 55 = 110) * 2 = 220
Independently we are a simple house current.
Joined together we are great potential.

Thanks to our parents and grandparents on both sides of the family who have shown us the way. Our heritage runs deeply and shows in all we have become. Thanks to our kids for showing us young love all over again. Thanks to God for giving us each other.

Perhaps the question is, instead of how did you do it, rather, would you do it again? For me, the answer is yes…you will have to ask my bride for her answer.