If newlyweds, middle and older couples keep a simple vocabulary their marriage will succeed.

Based on word limit, here are 5 essentials to sustain and bless your marriage:

1 word:        Jesus

2 words:       "Forgive me."

3 words:       "I love you."

                                                             4 words:        "I think you're right."

                                                             5 words:        "How may I help you?"

A Wedding Memory

 

As Bill walked me down the aisle following our July 13th wedding ceremony, I breathed a happy sigh. The minister’s remarks, the vows, the music—everything had gone according to plan. And now, after pictures and a reception, we would be off on our wonderful new life as husband and wife.

I was not ready for the surprise. It happened soon after the reception. Tired, but happy, we retreated to separate areas of the church to change into our going away outfits. It probably took me a good forty-five minutes to peal out of the wedding dress, re-arrange the suitcase and complete all of those last minute touch-ups of hair and make-up. Surely, I thought, Bill would be waiting in the vestibule shaking his head and his watch. No so!

When I rounded the corner-- there stood my groom holding a ball and chain in his hands. Laughter erupted from everyone (even my mother) but, at around 8:30 in the evening, I could see no humor in our predicament. It seems my bride’s matron and some of the groomsmen were in cahoots.  Judy laughed as she related how the guys tackled Bill in his dressing room and locked the ball and chain in place. Now, even though Bill’s best man would drive us to our car hide-away, what would we do next?

“Not to worry,” Bill said as he tried to kiss away a frown from my forehead. “You can drive me to the office for a file. We will have this off in no time.”

As I threw the bride’s bouquet from the top step of the church and accepted well wishes from friends and family I was still not convinced that we had a solution.  And matters didn’t improve much when Judy came running up to our get-away car with a sheet of paper.

“Here you go,” she said. “This is a list of 15 possible combinations. One of them will open the lock. Have fun!”

I don’t remember what I said to this “former” friend. At least, this is the way I felt about Judy during those long two or three minutes before she smiled, recanted, and slipped Bill the proper lock sequence. I watched with baited breath as he slowly turned the dial and the heavy metal fell from his ankle. We would have a honeymoon after all!

Today, many years later, we still have a picture to remind us of the experience and to help us remember: a smile and a good attitude will keep a marriage from being a ball and chain experience. Happy anniversary, darling!

In honor of my father-in-law's birthday, I will share a story he enjoyed reciting many years ago.

It seems a distant DuBose relative had a date with a lovely young lady. Her only flaw was a slight speech impediment. After holding her hand for some time, he finally had the courage to say, "You are so beautiful I don't know if I should hug you or  kiss you."

The demure miss thought a moment and then replied, "Oh, Mr. Du Both!"

When I was about 7 years old my parents gave me this doll for Christmas. I named him William, not knowing another William would come my way many years later. Believe it or not, my husband, William, was given this little William Tell cap when he was small. Somehow, the doll & the cap survived and now occupy this antique high chair. One more treasure can be found in the center of the high chair tray. It's a picture of my friend and me days after receiving our Christmas dolls. We are all dressed for school to share our Christmas gifts for "Show & Tell."

Why do I bother to relate this story? Yes, I' sentimental, but I see more than emotions here. Each item serves as a reminder of something, and Someone, far greater. I believe God uses the ordinary to point us to the extraordinary. He cares about all the details of our lives and leaves us memorials to remind us of His goodness. Are your valuables on display? Better yet, can everyone see the ultimate treasure living in your heart?

Do you like to admit a weakness? Neither do I.  In fact, weakness was not even in my vocabulary as my husband and I planned our July anniversary trip to Colorado.

As I look back on it all,  it seemed like a dream come true. When I was a child my dad worked for the railroad so I've always been fascinated with trains. Well, the wheels really started to turn when  Bill and I watched the vintage train adventure  in the Rockies sponsored by Country Travel Discoveries.

Your patience might wear thin if I tired to recap the five fascinating adventures including Pikes Peak, Royal Gorge, Durango, Silverton and more. Taking your breath away, however, turned into an understatement because, by the second day, I began to feel strange. Breathless. Was this the usual sinus attack? I didn't think so. We tried allergy medications, nasal sprays, etc. but nothing worked. By the end of the week, I was coughing more than any steam engine and, frankly, counting the hours before reaching home. Finally, after a delayed flight, we made it and, by God's grace, were able to see the physician the next day.

Pneumonia. Not a pleasant diagnosis. Why am I telling you this story? I'm sharing it because God was showing me more than scenery on this anniversary. God was, in fact, reminding me of why I fell in love with this man in the first place. Bill is a man who lives out Ephesians 5:25 everyday. "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her . . ." The marriage vows, "in sickness and in health" are meant to be remembered.

Now the weakness is exposed, and yet I can say with assurance: "This was the best anniversary ever!

You came home today
finding me uptight, tense.
No reason, really,
except the jangling phone,
a tight schedule, and
endless interruptions.

Sitting down to dinner,
it all came out.
You had problems too.
We passed them back and forth
along with chicken, bread,
tomatoes, beans.

And then you passed a smile,
familiar, yet somehow new.
I savored it awhile,
then sent it back,
unable to describe
this taste of loving you.

    Father's Day has come and gone, but a memory of my dad still lingers.

    It was a day of bicycles and roller skates. A day for playing hop-scotch and marbles. It was a day when no respectable 10-year-old female would be without her autograph book with pastel pages. After all, didn't every girl need to know she was accepted? Didn't she, in fact, search every entry to see if, at least occasionally, she might garner a word of praise?

    I think Dad knew the scoop. Maybe that's why he took so long when I asked him for an autograph on that late spring day.

    "Well, let's see now," he said. "Oh, here's a funny one." Dad cleared his throat and read:

    "When one day a boy kisses you at the gate--
    remember love is blind, but the neighbors ain't."

    "Okay. Give me a minute. I need inspiration," Dad said.

    Frankly, I was surprised by Dad's delay; his desire for time and thought. He was usually a man of few words. Maybe he wanted to improve upon the scribblings of "Hi, does your face hurt? Well, it's killing me," or just "Have a good summer."

    I waited in anticipation, but with little hope. Finally, he handed the autograph book to me and walked away. Today, more than a half-century later, the book is gone but the words on the light-gold page remain etched on my heart. Dad wrote:

    "When all the others you have read
    When nothing nicer can be said
    When others have praised you to the top
    Remember--the best praise comes from your Pop!

    Happy Father's Day to all the guys who know how to bless their daughter's heart!