In 1973 a young, teenage country, dairy farmer boy was in love with a beautiful city girl. The country boy would drive 55 miles every weekend to spend time with her, and stayed the weekend with his cousins who lived a short distance away, so they could go to church together. It all began in 1972 right after this country boy graduated from High school, and had returned from a trip to Florida with three friends.
She was only fifteen when they started dating, but shortly thereafter turned sixteen. The country boy was just seventeen, out of school, and no intentions of going on. Without making the story too long; he proposed to her in December of 1972, and they determined to wait until she graduated from High school. That, however, was not how it turned out. They wanted to be together so much that they moved the date up to July of 1973, and married on July 28, 1973.
The wedding took place at Dale Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. After five children, and now having 12 grand children [two with Jesus in Heaven] we have been married for a blessed 38 years. That country boy and city girl of course is Madge and I. Secret exposed :).
How things have changed in those 38 years. More couples living together without marriage. They will say things like, “Marriage is only a piece of paper.” or “If we aren’t married then we won’t have to go through all the legalities of divorce when it happens.” As for the first one it’s much more than a piece of paper; it is a bound, a commitment to one another. It is held together by much more than a piece of paper or law; it is held together by genuine love, no lust, but love.
Genuine love is much more than “feeling” it is a decision you make when you get up every morning. I am going to love her/him today, no matter what. I am going to demonstrate that love, no matter what. One doing something for the other without expecting anything in return. Genuine love is a God-like love; sacrificial. Loving even when the other may show hate.
Madge and I have had our ups and downs, however, for my part it has been thoroughly worth it. I have learned more about God’s love for me, and for all by our marriage.
As for the second part of what I wrote above; You have no love, just lust, and it will not last. You cheapen yourself, you cheapen one another to nothing more than a source of your pleasure. Most of all you cheapen marriage. O yeah! Marriage is between a man [one man] and a woman [one woman]. Faithfulness to one another is a blessing and not a curse.
From the banks of Flat Creek; Happy Anniversary Madge. I love you today and always.
-Tim
Flat Creek Rolling 