On this date, 40 years ago, I said, “Yes” to a very special gift from God.  Because of sin and stupidity on my part, I have not always seen her as a gift; but thankfully, God has always brought me back to sanity.  We got married about three months after we met, so we both married relative strangers.  One night, not too long ago, one of my daughter-in-laws asked me when I fell in love with Joyce.  I said, “About five years after our wedding.”  I was initially attracted to Joyce by her physical beauty and her devotion to God.  We were both at a point in our lives when we were ready to be married and believed that God was directing our lives in this direction.  But it was not too long after we said, “I do,” that I heard the cage door slam shut and realized I was stuck with this woman, who was so different than me, for the rest of my life.  I lived with in that delusion for about five years, until God graciously opened my eyes one day.  He made it clear my marriage was not the cage, my self-centeredness was the issue.  God had given me a beautiful treasure to be enjoyed and loved, as I focused on loving God by loving her.  As I quit looking at Joyce as a well to draw from rather than a cup to pour into, I began to “fall in love” with her.  After 40 years, I am still in love with Joyce every moment that I remember, “Jesus is the well, Joyce is the cup.”  And He continues to fill my cup to overflowing through her. I am so blessed!

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Prov. 31:30 ESV)