20 years ago
on a warm and golden evening in May
i stepped into a white dress
slipped my hand onto my dad’s arm
and ambled down a long aisle
petals on flagstone
Trumpet Voluntary ringing throughout the chancel
gaze locked on the shining eyes
of one extremely handsome baseball player
bedecked in borrowed tie and tails
oh, were we young
23 can’t even begin to imagine 43
can’t see what’s coming
can’t look down that aisle
and peer across the years
can’t understand what grace will really look like lived out
through words and actions
can’t anticipate the decisions that will be made
the children who will be born
the jobs, the moves, the arguments, the ministries, the celebrations, the money problems, the snoring, the bad hair days, the in-laws, the Sunday afternoon football games, the beautiful friends who will weave in and out of our environs
23 doesn’t see across that horizon
the only real thing that 23 knew
was that
in all the years to come
she would stay
that to stay
day in and out
through easy and hard
joy and sorrow
trust and fear
would be the one thing
that 23 could promise
23 certainly didn’t know
couldn’t conceive
how wise she was to make that vow
with that besuited man
but 43?
she gets it
43 looks back and sees the wisdom of her choice
how smart she was to say yes
43
gray hair and all
sees how truly fortunate she is
to have pledged her troth
on that perfect Friday evening
43 sees the blessings
the joy
the laughter
the fun
the hard decisions
the faults in ourselves, covered by mercy
43 loves more deeply and more fully
because of those 20 years of marriage
where 23 was naive
43 knows
where 23 hoped
43 sees
i am so very thankful
to have walked that aisle
20 years ago
so thankful for the years the Lord has granted
for the love that has grown beyond anything i could have promised
23 was good
but 43 is totally kickin’ 23’s can
happy 20th, love
