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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"The Secret Of Marital Bliss"
October 20, 2010
I almost cried myself when I saw the tears in her eyes. She looked at my
face and was so surprised to see me. The first words out of her mouth
were, "How did you get here?" I told her that her husband, Michael, had
arranged it and that I was prepared to help them renew their wedding vows
if she wanted to do so.
My friend, Mike, and his wife, Kim, celebrated their 25th Wedding
anniversary in Chapel Hill, North Carolina last week. They were one of the
very first couples I married when I came to Norwich in 1985. On a
beautiful autumn day, surrounded by family and friends, Mike and Kim
declared their love would last forever. So far, so good.
Weddings are the substance of fairy tales. Many little girls grow up with
the image of that perfect day where they walk down the aisle into their
happily ever after. Young boys fantasize about finding the girl of their
dreams who they can love and cherish forever.
So why is it that so many marriages end in divorce? Could it be because
every marriage is between real people who are facing life with all of its
challenges? I love the movie Shrek. Even though it is a cartoon, it depicts
the fact that every relationship, even among ogres, will go through trials and
tribulations. It is the nature of life in a fallen world. Shrek and Fiona faced
every situation that modern couples do. Yet they had something special
which helped them through.
No it wasn't donkey. It was love and a willingness to forgive and forget.
Shrek and Fiona had their troubles. They had their secrets. Yet they made a
conscious decision to talk things out and find a way to get through it
together. This is lacking in many marriages today.
I tell every couple that I marry that God not only wants to bless their
wedding, he wants to bless their marriages. You see God is love and he has
the key to happiness. He helps us look for the best in our partners and
encourages us to treat each other with grace and respect. That is the
essence of love.
My friends, Mike and Kim, have the learned the secret to a happy
marriage. They still love and respect each other after 25 years. They have
their stories to tell. They aren't perfect. But they will tell you that God has
blessed them. I'm just glad that I was there to see it.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
October 20, 2010
I almost cried myself when I saw the tears in her eyes. She looked at my
face and was so surprised to see me. The first words out of her mouth
were, "How did you get here?" I told her that her husband, Michael, had
arranged it and that I was prepared to help them renew their wedding vows
if she wanted to do so.
My friend, Mike, and his wife, Kim, celebrated their 25th Wedding
anniversary in Chapel Hill, North Carolina last week. They were one of the
very first couples I married when I came to Norwich in 1985. On a
beautiful autumn day, surrounded by family and friends, Mike and Kim
declared their love would last forever. So far, so good.
Weddings are the substance of fairy tales. Many little girls grow up with
the image of that perfect day where they walk down the aisle into their
happily ever after. Young boys fantasize about finding the girl of their
dreams who they can love and cherish forever.
So why is it that so many marriages end in divorce? Could it be because
every marriage is between real people who are facing life with all of its
challenges? I love the movie Shrek. Even though it is a cartoon, it depicts
the fact that every relationship, even among ogres, will go through trials and
tribulations. It is the nature of life in a fallen world. Shrek and Fiona faced
every situation that modern couples do. Yet they had something special
which helped them through.
No it wasn't donkey. It was love and a willingness to forgive and forget.
Shrek and Fiona had their troubles. They had their secrets. Yet they made a
conscious decision to talk things out and find a way to get through it
together. This is lacking in many marriages today.
I tell every couple that I marry that God not only wants to bless their
wedding, he wants to bless their marriages. You see God is love and he has
the key to happiness. He helps us look for the best in our partners and
encourages us to treat each other with grace and respect. That is the
essence of love.
My friends, Mike and Kim, have the learned the secret to a happy
marriage. They still love and respect each other after 25 years. They have
their stories to tell. They aren't perfect. But they will tell you that God has
blessed them. I'm just glad that I was there to see it.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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