TWENTY-ONE YEARS
Today's reading: Isaiah 40-44

Disclaimer: Sorry, but this has nothing to do with the Scripture passages I've just read.

I can't believe he said it. Well, what I think I really can't believe is, I believe he was speaking honestly. I don't believe he is prone to lying, so I'll assume the sincerity with which he said it was real. It kind of caught me off guard. It's been on my mind all day long.

Let's back up to the actual conversation...

The customer I was waiting on asked if I was having a good day. I told him I was, with a huge smile. He asked what was making it so special to cause such a smile. I told him it was my 21st weddding anniversary and I had a lot to be thankful for. That's when he said it...

'I don't think I know of anyone that's been married that long', making it seem like it more of an accomplishment that it is. I repeated the numbers in case he thought I'd said 51, 61 or 71. He then said, 'Wow, 21 years...nope I don't think I know of anyone who's made it that long'.

He was not a young man. If I were to guess he was in his late 30's. He's grown up in the same little town I've been raised in. I think he went to school with my younger sisters. I'm pretty sure his Dad was a coal-miner like mine. He was not from a big city or raised with world views foreign to the farming community we're a part of. There was nothing any different about him or myself.

Well, I wouldn't have thought there was until he spoke.

I had to stop and thank God for allowing me to be surrounded by a family of 'lifers' when it comes to marriage. I'd taken that blessing for granted. I'd overlooked the fact that in today's society commitment to vows of any sort, especially marriage vows, is something short of heroic and ficticious.

I'm thrilled to be setting an example for our son to follow. I'm tickled to be a living, breathing 'abnormality' in the world's, and in this fellow's, eyes!