It's My 30th Wedding Anniversary Today

It is my honor and my privilege to say that today I have been married to my sweet husband for 30 years! Sometimes when I think back, it seems like it has been that long, and yet it seems like just a short time other days.

So many people today don't have marriages that last this long and I know I am blessed to be one who has had this 30 year journey with Rick. We have had our share of good days, bad days, really bad days, sickness, tragedy, and days that will be remembered and smiled about for as long as we both live.

Growing up I thought I knew exactly the kind of guy I wanted to marry. Actually when I was growing up just wanting to get married and have a family was not the thing to do. As a woman in the late 70's early 80's, I was expected to live for myself and think of my career possibilities, not marriage. But I didn't. I dreamed of the guy and the family to follow, and the home I would live in and build together with him.

It's been interesting to see how God took some dreams and gave me an amazing life with this husband of mine. What I thought I wanted is not what God knew I needed. I am so very thankful for that! If I had the guy I thought I should have way back when, I would have been miserable for the last 30 years with him, if we had even lasted that long.

One of my friends asked me recently if I had any regrets in my marriage. If I am to be totally honest I have to say yes, but not the kind of regrets you might think. I wouldn't want to change Rick into someone else. I wouldn't want to even change all the things that happened throughout the years, good or bad, those are the things that have formed and shaped the two of us into the people we are today. The regrets I have are not being the wife he deserves, the wife I was called to be by God. All too often I was overly selfish and self-centered. If most of you were honest with yourselves, you would probably say the same thing. So many decisions were made on my part to ease my discomfort and not to think of him or our family as well.

Despite some things I wish I had done differently, I can say that we have a very good marriage, not because of us, but because of what God has done through us and in us. The credit for our being together this long falls completely on God and our faith in Him. He is the center of our marriage, even when we forget it. He has blessed us abundantly and without Him we would not have lasted 30 years.

Our son Aaron sent me this message yesterday:

"Thanks for still being married. There are a lot of bad examples of not good marriage out there, so thanks for being a good one."

That was such a sweet thing to hear from him, but it's not because of us, it's because of Him who is in us, the same One who can do the same thing for any marriage!

So, it is my honor and my privilege to say that today I have been married 30 years to Rick Jones, and I am hoping the Lord gives us 30 more years together!