Anniversary Remembered with Flowers: A True Gift from the Heart

The doorbell rang and one of my sisters came in, carrying a colorful and cheerful  bouquet of flowers.

They commemorate the 36th July wedding anniversary of my husband and me.  It seems almost impossible that 36 years have gone by since we said vows to love and cherish each other. On the other hand, with all we've been through throughout the decades, it definitely seems possible we've been married that long.

Here's an admission. I really adore my husband. All the conflicts we've had and the things about him I dislike, pale compared to his wonderful qualities and immense talents. 

Our deep and abiding faith in Almighty God and shared spiritual core kept us strong through all the storms that threatened to tear us apart. Of that I am sure. He is the greatest gift I ever received in my entire life and it makes me feel so humbled and so blessed.

He had a health scare two years ago and thoughts of losing him came to mind. But, like the Bible says, he regained strength  and has come back to life like on the wings of an eagle. My heart is so filled with gratitude it could break. It was not yet  time for us to part.

On the cover of the anniversary card that accompanied the flowers, two people are flying kites.

    "You can have a Happy Anniversary or say 'go fly a kite,' " my sister joked and we had a good laugh.

She lost her husband just a few months ago to pancreatic cancer.  He was only 59 years old. July would have marked an anniversary for them, too.

Today she saw his tombstone for the first time.

As I look at the flowers, gifts from the hand of God,  tears fill my eyes. Life is so filled with sadness, at times, and deep disappointments that shake the soul.

The death of a spouse has got to be one of the most traumatic of all life's sorrows. My own heart breaks for my sister who misses her "forever love" every minute of her life. All the dreams of their growing old together are gone, vanished like the wind on a summer's day.

I watched her walk, alone, out of our front door and felt an ache deep inside my soul. 

When I tell my husband "Happy Anniversary,"  I will hold him close to my heart and hug him, thanking God for every moment we have left together.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR LIFE'S GREATEST GIFTS?