42 and …

Today is a special day in the lives of two wonderful people. March 21, 2012 is the 42nd anniversary of the day my parents said “I do.” While I know that’s not a “round number” anniversary, this one is a bit different.

You see, on this anniversary, dad will begin drinking that nasty stuff to get ready for a CAT-scan tomorrow. For a couple of weeks, we have known that something was wrong, but we, as yet, do not know what. Considering a CAT-scan and bone marrow test are scheduled for coming days, though, we are quite concerned.

I ask for your prayers, but I also want you to consider the power of a Christian marriage in this.

Here it is, mom and dad’s 42nd wedding anniversary, and they are not on a cruise. They aren’t going to be beach. They aren’t headed to Europe.

They are getting ready to go to the doctor for what could be a life-defining test…

…and they will go together. They will work on this (whatever “this” is) together. They will fight together. And my prayer, of course, is that they will win together.

What makes a couple be able to do this? It’s a word that our society has lost all sense of definition for: “commitment.” They are committed to God, and they are committed to each other. When they said, “I do,” they meant it. That whole “for richer or poorer” thing? Yeah, they’ve seen both. The “sickness and health” part? They’ve been there, and done that.

My prayer on this day is that we are starting the second round of 42 years. For their legacy, I could not be more thankful. For their love, I am the beneficiary. For their life (note that is singular), I am…well…I’m taking notes, so that Leah and I can live the same way.

Mom and dad…thank you, and here’s to 42 more years.

I love you.