The year broke upon us on a cold winter night.
The calendar announced: nineteen forty three.
The day was January one.
“Will you marry me?” was all I said.
The words came forth from my loving heart.
There was a long pause, a time of intense quiet, waiting,
Then the answer: “Yes, Yes, I will; indeed I will!”
So began a romantic and meaning-filled journey
Over the months and years,
To this very day.
When we look back we remember that special time.
We knew we were in love.
We wanted a future with each other.
We knew our united lives could be an odyssey of surpassing joy!
With these lines we track the fleeting years.
In seminary for Harold it was class after class;
For Beth–steady employment toward that special degree
PHT–”Putting Hubby Through!”
Month followed month, year followed year,
Quickly came graduation day.
A future full of promise.
On our way to a life of service, a pilgrimage of meaning.
The years that followed brought great change.
At first as a minister of education,
But this threshold quickly shifted to full ministry.
Church after church, town after town, city after city,
Time pointed to a row of tomorrows;
We were traveling as a team.
Two people in love with life, in love with each other,
Two, in love with ministry!
And along the way came family.
Two sons joined us; the days took on added pleasure.
Our early years of marriage disolved into the middle years
These times were often marked with fun:
Picnics, movies, vacation trips, quiet times around a campfire,
Just talking about our lives, about our world,
We four growing together.
School days, school sports, marching band, special events.
And, oh so quickly, commencement time.
Then off to college, and just the two of us alone again.
And still the clock kept ticking,
We watched the calendar, tearing away the months, the years;
There were good times and bad times, happy and sad times.
Weddings of our offspring,
Loss of grandparents, parents, relatives.
The axis of the earth seemed to accelerate as years flashed by,
But we used our time with ever greater care.
We cherished each moment, each day, our togetherness,
Husband and wife, parents and children, grandchildren.
To our surprise, with mixed emotions,
We realized the passing years were swift and sure.
We pondered the close of ministry,
The celebration of a dream come true.
The fulfillment of vocation.
Indeed,”Dreams Can Come True!”
Now, retirement was upon us.
Beyond retirement day, a term of years has passed,
But they, too, fade away.
We mark this year: two thousand one,
Containing dates we call the special days
Which close now our eighth decade!
We celebrate our eighty years,
With fifty seven of them as a team, and bound as one.
For all these precious years we do rejoice,
Thankful for God’s priceless gift of days.
(July 2001)