This coming weekend marks another milestone in the journey of my life. Nearly 40 years ago - June 10, 1972 - I said "I do". For almost 40 years, my life has been shared with the man of my dreams. And what a life it has been!
We began our married life in a little house in the "Avenues" of West Columbia, SC. (If you're from Cayce/West Columbia, that will mean something to you. Otherwise, probably not!) When I say it was a "little" house, that's exactly what I mean......less than 1000 square feet. We have since lived in apartments that were larger than that house!
We had some expectations when we married. We expected to live out our days in West Columbia. (Or maybe we might move to Cayce!) We expected to move someday to a larger house. We expected that we would have children. I'm sure that back then we had other expectations as well.
In many ways, life has far exceeded our expectations.....even our wildest dreams. Over the years we have moved far beyond the boundaries of Cayce/West Columbia. Far beyond South Carolina......to Colorado and to Connecticut. To Minnesota and to Florida (talk about climate extremes!) And now we find ourselves in the mountains of North Carolina.
We have traveled to places we only read about or dreamed of visiting. All across these United States (Al has been in all 50 states; I have only been in 47!). We've visited such far away places as Tokyo and Paris. Sydney and Cairo. Edinburgh and Jerusalem. What an amazing journey we have had together!
I've said many times before that every journey has hills and valleys, smooth roads and potholes. Sometimes the scenery is beautiful. Sometimes not so much. Sometimes the road is straight. Sometimes there are curves.....bends in the road. It's all part of the journey. And we've experienced some of all of it!
Right now we're at another bend in the road. Another circumstance that was not part of our expectations. Right now we can't really see around the bend. Right now, for however long it takes, the "normal" routines of our lives are on hold as we assume the role of caregivers for Al's parents. This is a bit of a "detour" for us......but it's all part of running with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2). So......for right now there's a "bend in our road".
Even so, there's joy in the journey. Joy because we're right where our LORD wants us to be. Joy because we're here together.
As we have been for almost 40 years. Through thick and thin. In good times and in not-so-great. Through it all. Joy in our journey. Together.
And I wouldn't want to take this journey with anyone else!
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