Fifty years ago, Mary & I answered this question with “I do.” Little did either of us know the answers to the conditions of the question. Over the next 50 years we have lived through the conditions of “for richer or poorer”, “in sickness & in health”, “for better or worse”, “to love & cherish”, “in good times & bad times”. Yesterday we sat eating tasty hot dogs at “Frank’s,” and Mary said, “it was the storms (poorer, sickness, worse, bad times) He used to bring us to the Lord.”

It was 50 years ago we answered the question to each other with “I do”. But our “Life to the Full” started 10 years later when we both said, “I do!” to Jesus. Has it been easy? No. The difference between the first 10 years and the last 40 is night & day. In both we have experienced poorer, sickness, worse & bad times. But in the last 40 with Jesus, He has taken us through the hard times and given new meaning to “richer, in health, for better, to love & cherish and good times”. Simply put, Jesus changes everything.

As I look back over the 50 years, I am fascinated at how God works. Many times, it’s the unrecognizable people, events & situations…little things God strings together to put us in position. It’s when we are in position, He transforms us…if we say “I do” to Him. When we say, “I do” to Him we will receive His Power, Wisdom, Guidance, Peace, Joy, Confidence and Hope to answer the last part of the question, “till death do you part.”

What an incredible 50 years… we have shared tears of Joy & laughter that far exceed the tears of pain & sorrow. The wonderful memories of sharing life with each other. Little did we know of the 3 wonderful children that would marry 3 incredible spouses that would have 8 precious grandchildren & 3 beautiful great-grandchildren. We didn’t know of the incredible number of dear friends He would bring into our lives when we stood before the minister that Saturday night in Mesa, Arizona on December 28^th, 1974. But He did! Our Loving Heavenly Father has left His fingerprints all over us.

I don’t know what your story will be from this day forward but, if you want the Promise of Jesus when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) it requires an “I do” answer to Him. This is what the thief on the cross did in Luke 23:43. It’s the same response Mary & I gave to Him in 1984, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Wow! What a wonderful 50! Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mary.