Twenty days, a Wedding and Goodbye

We were enjoying the simple pleasure of time spent together. We’d been engaged for two months and had only known each other for about five months so there was still a lot to learn about each other. We weren’t in any hurry to set a wedding date, until…

Larry was in the Army, stationed at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA, when we met. He ran into a friend from High School on the Base one day and, since I don’t believe in coincidences, God had arranged for me to work with his wife. Linda and I worked in a bank in downtown Augusta and had become quick friends. As you might have guessed, one thing led to another and Johnny and Linda decided that Larry and I would be perfect for each another. They arranged for us to meet at their house and the rest is history.

We met in the Fall, were engaged at Christmas, and now it was mid-February, 1969. The country was in turmoil over Vietnam and our lives would soon be affected by it as well. Larry came to visit me one evening with the news that he had orders for Vietnam. He had to report in twenty days. And he wanted us to get married before he left.

The plan was to take ten days to get the wedding planned, have ten days of honeymoon and then say goodbye for a year. My mother advised me not to get married until he returned from his tour of duty. She said, “What if he doesn’t come back?”  My reply was, “Then I will have had ten wonderful days of love and joy. Some people never have that opportunity.” 

She acquiesced and we set to work like little beavers. A seamstress friend made my dress and veil, as well as the two bridesmaid’s dresses. The cake and flowers were ordered. Invitations were selected at a printing shop. When they were ready, Larry and I picked them up, addressed them on the way to the Post Office and they were in the mail in plenty of time for friends and family to attend. The reception would be held at my parent’s home with various friends helping with the food. We even had a couple of showers in the midst of all the chaos. In ten days, with lots of help from friends, we were married at Advent Lutheran Church, Martinez, GA.

We celebrated our forty-third wedding anniversary this month. I am overwhelmed when I consider all that God has brought us through in those years. How in the world did we make it work? We live in a throw-away society. If something doesn’t work, we throw it away and buy a new one. We use paper plates, plastic baggies and paper towels so we can toss them. If you wake up tomorrow and decide you don’t like your husband/wife anymore, you get rid of them too.

I think what made our marriage work is sticking. A friend once told me, “If you’re gonna make it in this world, you gotta stick.” There’s much truth in that statement. Here’s how the Bible says it:

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  Ephesians 6:13

We stood our ground. We honored our vows to God and to each other. It’s a miracle only God could perform, but now, through thick and thin, and everything in between, we find ourselves working on our forty-fourth year on the way to forever. And that brings me joy!

Will you join me in looking for the gems of life today? When you recognize them, will you leave a comment and share them with my readers?

Wishing you joy for the journey-

Cathy