Fifty-two Years!
Our Story in Music
In 1973 I was working in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma and I rode the city bus to work each day. One spring day this good looking young lady stepped on the bus, which was standing room only. I offered her my seat and that was the start of our relationship.
I don’t think either of us would admit it at the time, but it was love at first sight and all it took was Just One Look.
By October, she was My Girl and I was her guy.
I bought a ring and asked her to be my partner for life. She said yes!
On May 11, 1974 we got married in a small church in Diamond, Missouri among family and friends. Our wedding vows said that we would make this union last a lifetime. We promised to love each other forever and ever, amen!
Fifty-two years later they’re still playin’ our song and we’re still dancin’ in love!
I first posted the following words on our thirty-fourth anniversary. Thank the Lord, we have seen our 50th come and go. The truth is still the truth over twenty years after the original post. Have a blessed day.
So what’s the secret to being married for thirty-four years (now 52) and looking forward to celebrating number fifty (maybe 60) one day? All I can tell you is that our marriage is centered around our faith and 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 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 the marriage 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.”
Driller's Place 
Amazing, 52 years, it seems like last year you were celebrating 50 and now you are headed full speed to 60. Huge congratulations on so many wonderful years and being able to keep it together as most don’t these days. A super happy anniversary to you both!
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
much love
i am on the linky today
๐น๐น is HERE
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Thank you, and thanks for stopping by.
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Love all the videos, but your anniversary is the best part of this post. You two are most amazing.
โชโซHappy Anniversary to you both.โชโซ
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, my friend. ๐
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your faith, love and devotion has carried you through everything. You are so lucky since so.manu have not found the person that fits their pocket and vice versa. I think, too, too much hot married for the wrong reasons usually for that day. Wear that dress, have that first song etc… as soon as it gets tough…I mean the every day things, many cant handle.it. this was so.very nice of you to share these songs and thoughts with us. Thank you
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My husband and I will be joining the married 52 year club in June. We met at a bench in college. My future husband knew me from a class we had in common, was sitting with a couple of my high school friends also going to that college, and offered me his seat. I used the bus to get to college and he had a car. He started to offer me rides if he saw me walking from the bus stop; we started dating a month and a half after he offered me his seat. Your story made a great playlist. I wish you both many more happy years together. These long marriages seem to be more and more rare in these times. Enjoyed your playlist, especially the oldies. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
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Thank you for the kind words. Happy upcoming anniversary to you. You just never know who you’re going to meet on the bus.
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๐๐ช๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ท๐ท๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ช๐ป๐ ! ๐ ๐ช๐ถ ๐ฏ๐ช๐ถ๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐ช๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฑ ๐ช๐ต๐ต ๐ซ๐พ๐ฝ ๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ธ๐ท๐ฐ๐ผ . ๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐ช๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ต๐ช๐ผ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ผ!
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I put a playlist together for our 50th anniversary celebration and these are a few of the selections that tell our story. Glad you enjoyed your visit. Come back anytime.
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What a blessing your testimony is! I wish you many happy returns of your anniversary.
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wow this is so lovely and your love and faith shine right out of your writing. Many congratulations ๐ on your 52 anniversary. My hubby and I share your music memories. We married in 1971 so this year we will celebrate 55years of marriage. Maybe all have many more happy years together.
Here is a song that I believe show the meaning of true love and long and happy relationships it by my favourite singer songwriter Sam Ryder.
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What a sweet testament of your commitment to one another! How glorious is it that you’re celebrating 52 years of marriage. Reading your words make me think of my husband. He often tells me similar things about the way you feel about your wife and why your relationship has stood the test of time. A God centered marriage with the husband and wife working toward a common goal to building a solid relationship. Like you said, a good marriage just doesn’t happen, it take hard work on by both people. Congratulations! Thank you for the beautiful story and music, my friend. Have a blessed and boogietastic week!
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