Thirty-Seven Years of Marriage

Thirty-seven years ago on this evening of December 26th I took Anita Ruth Siml to be my wife in a lovely candlelight ceremony in a Wheaton church. I cannot say that we have never struggled during our life together. Couples with any personality between them will struggle I am certain. I can say that we have no regrets about taking those vows and that we deeply love one another today even more than ever. In fact, living with one another, with our two children and two grandchildren still in this area, is really life at its very best in so many ways. We enjoy hanging out with each other, we like to talk and do so frequently throughout the day, especially since I work at home. And we do not feel compelled to demand too much of one another in our domestic and emotional life. Anita is as good a partner as I could have hoped for when I was twenty-one years old and each year makes me more convinced of this fact.

Our lives are fairly uncomplicated. Anita cares for her aged mother a great deal, gladly watches over our two grandchildren at the drop of a hat, and helps me in scores of ways to cope with my travels, teaching, writing and daily routines. She is consistently empathetic, patient and kind thus I am a very blessed man.

Marriage is "an honorable institution ordained by God." This covenant is one that plainly rewards all who honor it and keep it faithfully. I am not proud when I say this but I am very grateful today that we have both kept the marriage covenant faithfully for all these years. The fruit of that faithfulness is so sweet.