FollowToday Lori and I celebrate 21 years of marriage. I’m pretty excited. When she wakes up, she’ll see an envelope in the middle of the room. Inside the envelope will be some cash, enough to cover any of the list of several choices for the evening: shoe shopping followed by dinner and a nice hotel suite an hour from our house, a night alone at our own home with dinner and a nice fire (kids are gonna be at a friends’ house), or a real fancy dinner and shopping.
I think she’s gonna go for the shoe shopping and the suite!
It really wasn’t that difficult to plan. I’ve been stuffing cash away in a hidden place for months, I made a few calls with cancelable reservations, and then I bought a card and listed out the choices. I love this stuff! Probably because I’m head over heels in love with this girl… still, after 21 years!
Young people especially seem to ask me, “How is it that you made it 21 years and actually still like each other!” (If it was my friend Adam, I’d just say it’s because she’s so hot!)
It does seem a little crazy by the world’s standards. I mean, we made it 20 years longer than Katy Perry, and almost 21 years longer than Kim Kardashian (the bar isn’t real high in pop culture).
What’s the secret?
Good question. “I” can’t really take any credit. Fact is… the less “me” the better. I guess that’s the secret, if any.
More of these marriage thoughts next week!
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Congratulations.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on marriage–especially as it pertains to the responsibilities of leading a ministry and family (if you have thoughts like those in mind).
Thanks Carl. I’ll be chiming in a little on that. But here’s a quick thought about that: make sure you put as much time into planning a special date with your wife as you do planning a youth event!
Way to go man – I think people that start hitting double digits in years of marriage should start getting medals – maybe even statues for 30+ years these days.
Maybe someday you will get to be “head over HEELS” in love too!!! (stupid grammar auto correct!)
DOH! I wonder what head over “heals” means. I guess every time she “heals,” I head over! … nah… I better correct that.
Wow… she chose the go shopping locally, dinner out, and then home alone by the fire! Time to go chop wood!!!
congrats jonathan! my wife and i celebrated 20 in August! next to God, my wife is the biggest source of encouragement in my life! hope you have a great time together!
Congrats on your 21st anniversary…hey that means you guys are legal now so go and have some fun! 🙂
Congrats! My husband and I will be 30 years in May! We also work in teen ministry and I agree, the key is to make your spouse as important as your ministry… or more!
Enjoy your time with your bride!
PS – I don’t think we need a trophy for 30 years, but cash is always nice!
God Bless!
30 is awesome! What a milestone! Congrats! … and yes, I like cash too! 🙂
Whoo hoo! Congrats! Enjoy your night and how did you put it…… “wood chopping”…… hmmm lol
It will be 32 years for us this Valentine’s day. I thought I was in love on our wedding day. I had no idea how unspeakably more God would bless us. If this is just a peek at what He has in store for us, I’m all in! Every morning, in prayer, I thank God for my wife. Whether she’s mad at me or not. I pray I’m as much a blessing for her as she is for me. God is good and He has a crazy sense of humor. How pleasant and fitting it is to praise Him. (Ps.47:1)
Thanks for your comment Mike. I really enjoyed what you wrote. It is amazing how marriage gives us a peek at our relationship with God. Heck, Paul used marriage as an example of God’s relationship with his people- his church. God has always been about relationships all through the scripture. Simply put: love God, and love others. The more we get to know Him and let Him transform us… the more our relationships with others is blessed. Marriage is one of those blessings… a companion to go through life with.
Congrats! My wife and I are coming up on 21 years in June.
I Look forward to reading your thoughts.