37 Roses for 37 Years of Married Life

Sometimes in life, special things happen to us that make us feel lucky to be alive.

One of those happenings occurred for me this week.  Tuesday marked 37 years since my husband and I got married. In some ways, it seemed like yesterday since we said our vows yet, in other ways, the 37 years felt like they made their mark in our lives.

Coming home from a business class, I walked into the kitchen and found a vase filled with 37 roses! Yes, there was one rose for every single year we have been married.

     


"The colors are mixed," my sweet husband said, "just as the years have been mixed."

 Some years brought immense blessings, including the births of our two precious (now adult) children. Other years almost broke us apart since there were so many disappointments, struggles, and seemingly unsolvable problems. Like the flowers in that big old vase, we rallied through.

In the bouquet are my favorite pink roses, sunshiny yellow, and pristine white.  They are interspersed with baby's breath and greenery.

My heart continues to overflow with love for my husband, with whom I've spent more than half my life.
He is faithful, generous, kind, loving, and warm-hearted.  With the humblest of hearts, I can say that my life is richly blessed and for that, I am deeply grateful.

If anyone were to ask me the "secret" of staying married to the same man for 37 years, my answer would come without hesitation. It would be to keep Almighty God at the center of your marriage. Turn all problems over to Him and give Him thanks for all the rich blessings that the years will bring.

With deep joy, I share the roses with each of you, dear readers, and  hope that seeing such beauty will lift your spirits on this day of life.