A Tribute

It all began 50 years ago.  Dad and Mom met for the first time at a train station, just 6 days before they were married.  This was the first time they had ever met and spent only 5 minutes together; less than one week later, on May 26th, 1966, they were married.   Especially in our culture today, it’s hard to wrap our minds around an arranged marriage.   How does one marry someone that he/she doesn’t even know?  What about falling in love?  Our parents have modeled and taught us that love is a choice.  Dad and Mom made vows before God and chose to love each other throughout their lifetime.  A marriage bound by God and choice is profound, but what is especially remarkable to me is that over the last 50 years, despite just meeting days before their wedding day, Dad and Mom are genuinely in love.  In fact, if you see Dad and Mom together, they are like newlyweds—they are inseparable. 

The marriage of Dad and Mom is a story of healing, miracles, blessings, grace, abundance, and most of all, prayer.  Even before their wedding day, mom’s powerful healing of paralysis is evidence of God’s grace and a sweet reminder that God weaves a beautiful story in our names.  From their wedding day, relocating 2 separate times to different countries, becoming a nurse, having two healthy boys, to doing their daily lives with family and friends, Dad and Mom have tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness.  In every joy and every sorrow, Dad and Mom proclaim the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. 

Periodically, the grandchildren spend a few days with Dad and Mom.  When they return home, I usually ask them to give me a play by play of their day.  Every single time, they say that Dad and Mom begin their day by spending time doing their devotions and praying.  This may sound familiar to you, as many of us practice this spiritual discipline, but what is astounding to me is that Dad and Mom take devotions and prayer to another level.  They spend hours reading and studying the Bible.  And, when they pray, they don’t simply lift up their requests to God, they spend hours praising, thanking and petitioning.  When Dad and Mom spend time together, go on road trips or travel together, they spend hours praying together.  This is remarkable to me—when the average person sleeps, listens to music or simply hangs out, Dad and Mom take the time to pray for their family, friends and community.  If Dad and Mom have every told you that they will pray for you, rest assured that they don’t simply lift up a one-time quick request to God, they bathe the matter in prayer.  Dad and Mom live an extraordinary example of thanksgiving and prayer.  And as their children, we can say that we’ve seen this modeled day every single day.
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 So, this is what makes the marriage of Dad and Mom so unique.  It truly is a marriage firmly planted, grown and established in prayer.  As we celebrate these 50 years of marriage, we celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness and provision in Dad and Mom’s lives.  50 years ago the Lord brought two strangers together and formed a union…and it couldn’t have been a more perfect match!

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