Today (Sunday 21 July) marks Bev’s and my 23rd anniversary.  Letters of condolence to Bev would be appreciated.

I have done many weddings in my pastoral career, and the one thing that stands out to me is that people really have no clue what they are promising each other during the ceremony.  Traditionally, each promises they will love each other in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, in good or in bad, forsaking all others – as long as you both live.

One of two things are necessary for a person to KEEP a promise like that; either a crystal ball that has already revealed what their lives are going to be like (full disclosure), OR God.  My crystal ball is currently in the shop, so I rely on God.

You have to understand there are times I just don’t like Bev.  She can be frustrating, nagging and just plain evil.  For instance, she insists that the last person out of bed should be the one to make it.  Can you imagine?  I don’t make beds.  There is no point.  In 14 hours or so I am just going to crawl back into it, and I prefer the bed remain ready for that eventuality.  Now you know how to pray for me.

We have faced our share of bad times together.  The loss of my parents; the loss of a child (miscarriage); emergencies large and small.  There have been sicknesses – just ask her about the time she had a really bad flu, and she was in bed and wanted me to do something for her (needed me), and I was downstairs watching football while she called out to me for two hours.  There was a time when I thought I might have been having a heart attack (bad indigestion), my back issues, etc.  I am sure that I can be difficult too.  About the only thing that has not been an issue for us has been money (yeah, right). 

But I can honestly say that because of God in our lives, I love Bev more now than that day I saw Dave Brown escort his absolutely stunning daughter down the aisle of our church.  In fact, there is no comparison.  Oh don’t get me wrong, I really loved her then.  But because of everything we have been through and with God’s help, I love her so much more!

She has impressed me from the very beginning of our relationship!  She continues to impress me.  The day after our first date we were at a church picnic and a softball game broke out.  My girls wanted to come out onto the field to be with me.  Bev volunteered to keep them distracted while I played.  I remember thinking, “She’s a keeper!”  I mentioned that I can be a little difficult to deal with, Bev does a pretty good job.  Once I was on a tirade, and she looked at me and told me, “I don’t deserve to be treated this way!”  It stopped me cold.

She is an amazing woman and I am truly blessed to have a wife like her.  I have no delusions that the future is going to be perfect – not by any stretch.  With Bev at my side, there is nothing we can’t handle.  So life – BRING IT!