This past Saturday we held my Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary Reception at our home. One of the displays my highly creative and hard working mom designed included a board criscrossed with golden ribbon containing pictures of all nine grandkids. Surrounding the board were pieces of golden paper. Each grandkid came up with a unique and special way to say I Love You and Thank You to our grandparents and the wonderful legacy they are leaving us. I would like to post my piece in honor of their dedication and the legacy they are leaving me. If God gives us that many years, I would love for my husband and I to be able to leave such a wonderful legacy for our own family, because 50 years really is a milestone.
At fourteen years old, I dream of my wedding. I think of planning my dress, the
food, and who I will invite. Will I have blue or pink bridesmaid dresses? Will
it be an evening or afternoon ceremony? Will I wear my hair up or down? I will
have lots of fun preparing……….. But when I think about the weeks, months, and
years that follow those few special hours, marriage can sound challenging. It
won’t all be roses, laughing, and kisses in the sunshine. (Though that stuff is
great) There will be struggles, work, and disagreements that we
will have to stand strong and work through together.
My lifetime of 14 years is not even 1/3 of 50! My Grandparents have been married
for three times my current lifespan. At this point, I cannot imagine
being alive for 50 years, much less sharing life with someone for 50 years! I
do know that children and grandchildren are born, close relatives pass away,
you change homes, pets die, storms come, neighbors move, and your church may
change.
As a woman, I will need to follow, to submit, and to go where my husband goes. I
will need to build him a home, and teach our children in the
ways of the Lord. I know that he will be a man of God,
and I hope that he will lead me with gentleness and strength. Because we are
imperfect and we sin, there will be times where we will disagree. There will be
arguments and I will need to be humble and be willing to ask forgiveness. We
will need to learn together, as we journey through the remainder of our lives together.
Walter and Tamara Campbell, my grandparents, have learned these
important lessons. They have triumphed over struggles, walked through pain, and
come out with golden character.
My Grandfather is a man of God who leads his wife with gentleness and respect. My
Grandmother is a strong woman who runs a home capably and is a true servant. I
admire their courage, dedication and faithfulness.
The traditional wedding vow states - In the name of God, I, take
you to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for
better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
and to cherish, until we are parted by
death.
In our world, the better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness, and health is pretty
constant. Sadly, a couple that truly loves and cherishes each other for 50 years
and will continue to do so until one of them is taken to be with their Heavenly
Father is a rarity.
Marriage and its vow are not to be trifled with. They are
forever. So, I suppose it’s good that I am humbled by the thought of 50 years. I
need to always respect that milestone number because of what it represents. It
is a lifestyle, it is character, it is faith, and it is true love. And true love
can still appreciate roses, laughter, and kisses in the sunshine whether you are
a 20 year old, or a 70 year old.
I honor my Grandparents for flourishing in their marriage. I admire their
individual characters, skills and talents, faithfulness, and the way they treat
each other. They are a wonderful living example of true love.
Congratulations for reaching 50 years, Grandpa and Grandma, because it really is a milestone!
At fourteen years old, I dream of my wedding. I think of planning my dress, the
food, and who I will invite. Will I have blue or pink bridesmaid dresses? Will
it be an evening or afternoon ceremony? Will I wear my hair up or down? I will
have lots of fun preparing……….. But when I think about the weeks, months, and
years that follow those few special hours, marriage can sound challenging. It
won’t all be roses, laughing, and kisses in the sunshine. (Though that stuff is
great) There will be struggles, work, and disagreements that we
will have to stand strong and work through together.
My lifetime of 14 years is not even 1/3 of 50! My Grandparents have been married
for three times my current lifespan. At this point, I cannot imagine
being alive for 50 years, much less sharing life with someone for 50 years! I
do know that children and grandchildren are born, close relatives pass away,
you change homes, pets die, storms come, neighbors move, and your church may
change.
As a woman, I will need to follow, to submit, and to go where my husband goes. I
will need to build him a home, and teach our children in the
ways of the Lord. I know that he will be a man of God,
and I hope that he will lead me with gentleness and strength. Because we are
imperfect and we sin, there will be times where we will disagree. There will be
arguments and I will need to be humble and be willing to ask forgiveness. We
will need to learn together, as we journey through the remainder of our lives together.
Walter and Tamara Campbell, my grandparents, have learned these
important lessons. They have triumphed over struggles, walked through pain, and
come out with golden character.
My Grandfather is a man of God who leads his wife with gentleness and respect. My
Grandmother is a strong woman who runs a home capably and is a true servant. I
admire their courage, dedication and faithfulness.
The traditional wedding vow states - In the name of God, I, take
you to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for
better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
and to cherish, until we are parted by
death.
In our world, the better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness, and health is pretty
constant. Sadly, a couple that truly loves and cherishes each other for 50 years
and will continue to do so until one of them is taken to be with their Heavenly
Father is a rarity.
Marriage and its vow are not to be trifled with. They are
forever. So, I suppose it’s good that I am humbled by the thought of 50 years. I
need to always respect that milestone number because of what it represents. It
is a lifestyle, it is character, it is faith, and it is true love. And true love
can still appreciate roses, laughter, and kisses in the sunshine whether you are
a 20 year old, or a 70 year old.
I honor my Grandparents for flourishing in their marriage. I admire their
individual characters, skills and talents, faithfulness, and the way they treat
each other. They are a wonderful living example of true love.
Congratulations for reaching 50 years, Grandpa and Grandma, because it really is a milestone!